III

Well then. What is this all about?
I shall explain... Admit to me
You'd be aghast
At infidelity on my part, did I ever
With my body, love
Another man! In this whole world...
Revolving around its axis of male
Anxiety, is there understanding anywhere
For an honest woman? And must I be
So cheated and debased that I
May not have convictions... or the
Courage of them ?
Well, I have my own integrity!
A little more abstruse... perhaps,
But there it is. And I cannot
Bear the role of cheat
Any easier than you would
Have me bear it... so I ask
That you release me from this
Marriage that was made in Hell.
We'll ne'er be mates, nor ever were!

And I love, with passion flaming,
Far beyond my flesh and blood,
Each man I meet with whom
I find my depths!
And I mate... with many.

The chef in my favorite Chinese
Restaurant; last night, the symphony
Conductor ...and that one as well,
Sitting next to me, whom I had never
Seen before, or will again, he too!
Because he loved the music
In the same way I did.
The man across from me on Subway
Trains... who carries a certain volume
Underneath his arm... I mate
With poets, dead these many centuries
And the newsboy who shares with me
Certain very special cartoons !

IV

You see, my dear, it is my
Very soul which is unfaithful. But
My body
Also is a part of me, and so,
When we are legally divorced, I shall,
Being once more my own mistress,
Give it to you. A gift
For your very own!
To prove I have no grudge
Against you for those years
Of anguish. So, I shall
Remain in this, our house... our bed,
But being my own mistress
I shall take my mind

And inner-being where'er
It wants to go.
You see, it's just a small matter ...
Of certain legal papers. Nothing will
Change, I take nothing from you...
But that which you would well
Be rid of!

All I wish is just
Release from this sordid feeling
Of unfaithful wife.
For I would oh, so much
Prefer to live in peace with you,
The children and myself...
Illegally ...Immorally and free
From guilt and shame!
You look perplexed...
Divorce is quite expensive, and we
Have no legal grounds, and if I've
No intent to leave...
It seems so silly!
But you do want me to stay? Ah!
'Tis exactly as I did
Foresee it... Very well,
I shall have to do without
The luxury of that small
Legal paper!

Continued...