Sonnet 9
(for Pat Price)

An easy smile betrayed an impish charm
Though unsure in our initial congress
As I attempted vainly to impress
Your natural defenses to disarm
I had sought no adversarial stance
In relations with my lovers close friend
Contrarily I'd hoped that we could bend
Those martial metaphors into a dance
But I had found a battle that raged yet
An unexpected sally from your side
My forces routed you had turned the tide
Of war before the armies even met
Capitulating to you I devote
This sonnet and tribute of he who wrote.