The house always wins

Some win good
and ace the test.
Some win better
and shame the rest.
Losers lament
while winners jest.
But Grim laughs harder,
'cause Death wins best.

The house always wins,
you know its true.
Don't look surprised
when they come for you:
for this body, name
and all this fame.
Blackjack in the casino
of Death, his game.

We've had a streak
of luck, a bit.
And security's been
watching all of it.
Cocktails, women,
dice, and play.
To congratulate us on
our lucky day.

We go back to our
hotel room up, a bit.
And Death's been
watching all of it.
We close our eyes
for just a wink.
And wake up teetering
on the brink
of fortune, fame,
a roulette game.
I lost my house,
and it felt the same
when I lost my
degree, my kids, my name.
I lost it all.
And death's to blame!

The house always wins.
I know it's true!
But I thought I could win
and shame him too.
But Death is patient.
And Death is kind.
And Death will surely
take all that's mine.

So what is it
I truly own?
These are not "mine"
but rented bones.
And Death will come
and take these too.
House always wins.
And I know it's true!

But is there wealth--
if just a bit--
that moth won't chew
and rust not git--
that's always shiny,
golden, new--
is there anything here
like that, that's true?

And some win good,
they're better than rest.
And winners love
to laugh and jest.
But an unsettling cackling
that quiets that din.
And the one that's laughing,
I know it's him.