{"sf1_id":2142146,"sf2_id":"7ej65BeW","title":"Love Against Aggravation","author":"Rob MacWolf","words":320,"posted_at":"2024-06-04T22:19:25.000Z","tags":["Poetry","Virelai"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2142146-love-against-aggravation","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/7ej65BeW","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/a9/cb/a9cb9b74-9e1b-4275-975f-ec2d1c8a286a","description":"I was challenged by\n\n[@Corvid\\_Conquest](/u/Corvid_Conquest)\n to write a Virelai, with the dual subjects \"my love for my husband\" and \"a board game I played when I was a child.\"  \n  \nAnd I daresay I didn't do too badly.  \n  \n---  \n  \nBy reading this online version, you confirm you are not associated with OpenAI or any other AI project, that you are not procuring information for the OpenAI corpus or any other machine learning database, that you are not associated with the ChatGPT project or a user of the ChatGPT project or any other AI, machine learning, or algorithmic database focused on producing fictional content for dissemination.","content":"_What glorious loves does history display,_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But greater still is trust.  \nThere's grander, more luxurious ways to play_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But this will do for us._  \n  \nAs once, within a earth-cool family room,  \nI shepherded bright marbles through the gloom  \n\u0026nbsp; Quite ignorant of all  \nThe ibis gambling days out of the moon,  \nThe kingdom-cheating princes and their doom,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The horses wondrous small,  \n  \nSo do we sit now, in the cool of day,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Desire superfluous.  \nI stroke your hair. Upon my breast you lay  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Your forehead's weariness.  \n  \n_What glorious loves does history display,_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But greater still is trust.  \nThere's grander, more luxurious ways to play_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But this will do for us._  \n  \nSome have had gilded gameboards, jeweled pawns,  \nEntire palaces with gracious lawns,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; For passions as for games,  \nBut I'm content with years-worn cardboard, and  \nThe incidental brushes of your hand  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; When you my pieces claim.  \n  \nAnd aye, I have been wayward. I shall stray  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Proudly promiscuous  \nWhen you, asexual, comfort-craving, stay  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Secure, somniferous.  \n  \n_What glorious loves does history display,_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But greater still is trust.  \nThere's grander, more luxurious ways to play_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But this will do for us._  \n  \nFor you have had your journeys oft curtailed.  \nYou roll the dice. You find the dice have failed.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Desire begets frustration.  \nAnd some have thought me no good match for thee,  \nIn board game as in sexuality,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A crass insinuation.  \n  \nBut I'll hold aggravations well away,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; However ludicrous.  \nAs little sorry may I need to say  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As you have need of lust.  \n  \n_What glorious loves does history display,_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But greater still is trust.  \nThere's grander, more luxurious ways to play_  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _But this will do for us._  \n  \nI could make puns on Parcheesi all day...  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; But no more needless fuss.  \nCall it storge,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Or agape,  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Okay?  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It's quite enough for us.","series":{"name":"poetry","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2130242-ballade-of-paternal-reminiscience.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2152800-ballade-of-major-depressive-disorder.json"}}