One of the most painful and terrifying fears in a romantic relationship is infidelity. When the man cheats, the other woman always gets blamed for all the lies, the disregard, and the betrayal — as they should. Yet none of us stop to wonder what goes on in her head. So, this poem attempts to do just that.
I draw the curtains, I shut the door
Unwillingly dragging my heart, longing for more
I heave a sigh and disappear without saying goodbye.
I tiptoe down the stairway
And prepare to face the wrath of another day.
Mama always said, “Don’t eat your heart out for married men.”
But lord, how was I to know then
That his arrow would stain my chest red?
Send me into a spinning spiral,
The wings of my desire on the wind of my lust.
The intensity was enough to make my resolve combust.
I take off the dress I picked out just for him,
As boiling drops of oil fill my eyes to the brim
Tainting my treacherous purity,
Scar marks of the indelible ink of infidelity
I look ahead and raise my chin,
Even though I’m rupturing within.
I knock with my heart in my mouth.
I wait for a thousand years.
My feet are frozen to the ground.
She lisps out an inquisitive, “yes?”
“I’m your husband’s mistress.”
Planets collided as our world shattered.
Her eyes bleed acid rain,
Reflecting my own guilt and pain.
The night draws in wearing a gown
studded with stars and a circular crown.
She creates radiant shadows with her darkest mercy.
And as I put away his sweater,
I swear on my mama’s grave: I’ll do better.
While cheating is abhorrent and inexcusable, it’s never too late to learn and do better. Also, the important thing is to learn from your mistakes. After all, we all make them. So we should allow them to teach us to be better and avoid making the same ones again. And I hope this poem reminds you of that.
Featured image via Sonnie Hiles on Unsplash
