For The Love of  LaCroix
  by Illinois Jules

    Me .... Can you imagine? 
    HA! 
    *Working* at keeping him so close.

    An appalling thought - No?!  
    (Not really, if you think about it.)

    But... He demands SO much! 
    And for all these centuries... 
    (Yet, I continue to strive.)

    To try to hold and keep the interest of an Ancient as he. 
    It requires such stringent behavior.
    (He bores so easily.) 

    I must constantly fight him, his ways, ideals, mores.
    His wit, his wile.
    To addle and confound him. 
    (It can be fun!)

    Once - In the beginning, I was within his grasp.
    Then - I ran faster than flight from it. And back.
    To - Turning away from it, him, and hurling it all back at him ... 
        the ugly fact of it, what he did, what he made. 
    (Me.)

    The need to perpetually pique his paternal 'clock'. 
    (It ticks away so slowly, so determined. Like his cold heart.)

    But I do so need his nurturing, help, and comfort at times. 
    (More than even *I* wish to admit. Shhh.)

    I stoke, stroke, smother, his Old World Roman pride. 
    (How he adores that, deep down.)

    To feed his Ego. 
    It's practically more grand than time itself!
    (By god, he's a handful!!) 

    Although without this almost contrived eternal battle of love and hate... 
  
    possession and escape... 
    pain, adoration, and ecstasy... 
    (<sigh> It has its moments!)
    
    What a hollow shell of unlife we both would lead.

    So, all this is what I must continue to do. 
    (Willingly)

    For the love of LaCroix.  

            FIN

April '99