Magic has lost another great performer in Martin Nash who performed as "The Charming Cheat." If you never saw Martin Perform, here's a video clip which will give you a taste of what you missed:
Paul Green shared this poem that he received from Martin:
The Loser
A dim light flickered above his head,
Sheets are rumpled on the bed,
A deck of cards clutched in his hand,
He was the best damn cheat in the whole damn land,
He would practice dealing both day and night,
Learned every move and every sleight,
Seconds, centers, bottoms, Greeks,
Gamblers cops, and gamblers peeks.
Never had a family, never had a wife
For the way of the cheat is a lonely life.
As he would silently sneak from town to town,
Seek out the marks, then take them down.
Now another player has joined the game.
Can’t see his face, doesn’t know his name,
But it’s Father Time, and he’s out to win,
As he makes hands grow stiff, and the eyes grow dim.
The cheat reflects on his checkered past,
His time is coming he cannot last,
No longer deal the cards that win,
And Father Time sits back with a twisted grin.
Now he’s spent every nickel, squandered every dime,
So he must play the game just one more time.
He tries a second; it’s just not there.
He grabs a bottom, and just grabs air.
Now where can he go, where can he run?
The game is over, his deal is done.
So he gently lies down on the bed,
And puts a forty-five up to his head.
A dim light flickered, and then went out.