do they laugh at him
he wonders
in the darkness
of their bodies
covered with a
blanket of shame
and desecration

do they laugh
or even speak his name
as they writhe
like snakes
tangled together
in knots
like a dolly
pulled out of the
bathtub
her hair left to dry
on the ledge

do they joke and play
silly word games with
deeper meanings
to demonize him
and put him out
of the light
where he was so faithful
and into the fire
where it is easier
to poke and prod
at his burning members

the cuckold takes another
drag of his cigarette
and smashes the wedding photo
on the hardwood floor
where the glass shatters
and gets into everything

he puts on his slippers
the ones she gave him
for father’s day
and he picks up the broom
to sweep up the mess
that she has made