Infidelity
Sweet Jesus, Matt swears,
and collapses on the bed.
Somewhere—she can’t remember where—she’d read sex
puts men to sleep but wakes women up.
She lies, thoughts distinct.
Arms behind her head.
His breath is sluggish. She considers
reading a book. Or—writing one.
Three characters take form,
do an impromptu minuet. Or
maybe the twist. One of them
has another man’s eyes.
Some time later he twitches,
opens his eyes. She rolls to face him.
Touches his chin; notes neck, shoulders, clavicle.
Sleep well? he asks.
Lovely nap, she lies, thinking,
Perhaps the other one will have Neal’s hands.
Jennifer A. McGowan is a disabled poet living in Oxford. Her second chapbook appears later this year from Finishing Line Press. She is a second-generation academic and a third-generation sweet tooth. Her website is www.jenniferamcgowan.com