[Jayne Osborn]

For next month please write a poem on the subject of adultery. Entries must rhyme, scan, and be no more than twenty-four lines in length; each poet may send a maximum of two poems. Please send them to arrive at 44 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LW by 30 August.

(Email: editorial@literaryreview.co.uk )


Mete Out Punishment

His outraged denials just served to confirm
her suspicions; she knew him so well.
Bravado, along with that hint of a squirm,
- he was lying all right, she could tell.

The private detective established her hunch:
Yes, he’d taken a colleague to bed.
She planned her revenge while preparing his lunch,
and she laughed as she took out the bread.

She didn’t intend to become his ex-wife,
but he’d pay for betraying her trust.
She pictured them naked whilst wielding the knife,
then she savagely cut off the crust.

She thought to herself while she buttered each slice,
“I will show him how loving I am.
I’ll pick up the pieces but he’ll pay the price.”
Then she viciously spat on his ham.

It made her feel better; no real harm was done.
After all, it was only saliva.
No blood had been shed but Round One had been won
by a calmly triumphant survivor.

She gave him the sandwich whilst licking her lips;
he would never suspect what she’d done.
Now, - what could she do to his sirloin and chips?
Her revenge for his lies would be fun.