The Luck

It sits on a page. It’s a word,

After all. They do that. Also

On screens and on the tips of tongues,

Fingertips, anything that works

For words as forms of signaling.

Sometimes words are tricky like that.

More words on the page, next to luck.

The words are explaining that luck

Is tricky since it goes both ways—

A stroke of luck is a good thing

But a stroke is bad luck. Maybe

It’s stroke that’s the trickier word.

Writing’s made by series of strokes.

Some say that all writing systems

Max at three strokes per character,

Which seems the opposite of luck,

Necessity, a rule, a law.

Lots of luck with the rule of law.