Notes: 1) Triskaidekaphobia: extreme superstition concerning the number 13; 2) Apollo 13’s Jim Lovell commanded the successful return of their damaged space vessel after aborting the moon landing; 3) A royal flush is the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of any suit; 4) The Betsy Ross flag had thirteen stripes and thirteen stars representing the original thirteen colonies; and 5) A baker’s dozen refers to an extra item thrown in with the purchased twelve, and has come to refer to any group of thirteen.
THIRTEEN
a triskaidekaphobic
commenting on Apollo 13
would say, “See?” though
Lovell might well disagree,
the way they made it safely home,
as might too the poker player
whose luck lays down a royal flush,
what chance these five from thirteen clubs?
I myself follow suit, positive as
the legendary Betsy Ross flag,
walking away from the donut shop
with a baker’s dozen in my bag.