Think of a seven letter word that will make sense in the first blank. Switch the letters around to find the words that make sense in the remaining four blanks:
His fortune was _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to the sea
And _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with each ship's success or wreck.
One day, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to catastrophe,
He staked his fortune on a drier deck,
Which he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and shuffled, till he struck
The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on the golden wheel of luck.
(from Wit Twisters by Arthur Swan)
Put your answer in the comment field, OK? And see if you can invent a similar brainteaser.
— sdh