Death & Company

Death & Company
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“Masturbating a glitter”
—Sylvia Plath
“Death & Co.”
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Ted and I settled—
In the Devon countryside
Making Court Green our
Lovely new home

Two fags came calling—
So perfectly unnaturally
Both with limp wrists
And a mincing swish
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Invisible gay birthmarks—
Verdigris-stained necks
Vulture-lidded eyeballs
Dead cruisy creeps

Simpering sycophants—
A couple of Connecticut fags
Who wanted Ted to guest
Teach back in New England
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Dido Merwin wasn’t—
The only one with the hots
For my husband, even the
Queers wanted him too

What’s a girl to do—
Simply ignore the lovers
That intrude into my so-so
Mytholmroyd marriage?