IS ALL FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR?

infernally, we played children role games
eternally, we played until we moved from
a boyfriend, betrothed, husband, another

with each or with none of the above, play
looking for an interesting lover, games of
fleeing Mercury to my blossoming Venus

a Merlin unfurling magic to sneaky Nimue
that Arthur never fully knowing Guiniviere
from the good knight to depths of a Nemo

out back doors on hot nights, undercover
in cover to cover, limb to limb, fey to folly
shegalleon to Roger's best jolly, we play

in bridling Pegasus for a memorable ride
rising competition to the fair Venus rising
white knight, see, my prince finally comes

once, I felt you a strong Atlas to my world
at the last, I was the one who held you up
mopping a brow, ready to care and serve

for then we bargained with chips not ours
in begging, prayers, wishes, and disbelief
lost in mercury and by something veinous

and bed games from which none recovers
yearningly played until we had to move on
to scarred board unwilling, real battlefield

(c) 2003 Ali Cecilie Sonder aka Rennie Lorca