Matthew Brennan

The Cuckold's Lament to His Wife

As both a father and a fool — 
When you rolled over, sometime after four,
And kissed my lips and drew me in
As you had done so many times before —

I thought you were contrite, that you
Relit our flame and felt renewed desire
As if your secret love had failed
And you no longer played the guilty liar.

But now I see your eyes are closed
And you are acting out a sexy dream
With someone clearly who's not me,
My wick a sparkler that has lost its gleam.

Matthew Brennan’s poems have appeared in Sewanee Review, Blue Unicorn, Cantos, Trinacria, Valparaiso Poetry Review, and Amsterdam Quarterly, among others.  He has published seven books of poetry, most recently The End of the Road (Kelsay Books, 2023).  A new edition of The Sea-Crossing of Saint Brendan, written in alliterative meter, is coming from Bass Clef Books.  His four critical books include The Colosseum Critical Introduction to Dana Gioia (Franciscan University Press, 2020).