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Poker Player's Poem Offers A Winning Hand

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

And next, the latest in our series, Muses and Metaphor.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MARTIN: We've been celebrating National Poetry Month by hearing your poetic tweets. Many of our listeners have been sending us poems that are 140 characters or less and, today, we hear a tweet from Joel Dias-Porter of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Joel makes a living playing poker in Atlantic City, and he says his last, quote, "real job" was an overnight shelver at Borders Books.

Joel has been writing poetry since 1989, and even competed in the National Poetry Slam in the 1990s. Now, remember, these are short, only 140 characters each. Here's a tweet by Joel Dias-Porter.

JOEL DIAS-PORTER: Friday night, trout scales glisten on Mom's arms.

MARTIN: And we know that went by pretty fast, so let's hear it again.

DIAS-PORTER: Friday night, trout scales glisten on Mom's arms.

MARTIN: That's a poetic tweet, submitted by Joel Dias-Porter. If you would like to help us celebrate National Poetry Month, tweet us your original poetry using fewer than 140 characters. If your poem is chosen, we will help you record it for us, and we will air it in the program this month. Tweet us using the hashtag #TMMPoetry. You can learn more at the TELL ME MORE website. Go to npr.org and click on the Programs menu to find TELL ME MORE. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.