The Black Telephone

The Black Telephone
__________________

“the telephone
jerked awake,
in a jabbering
alarm, a voice
like weapon—
“Your wife
is dead.”
—Ted Hughes
____________________

Telling the story—
What happened that
Night between us

Telling the Lie—
I now have to tell
To cover it all up

It couldn’t happen—
It wasn’t happening
It didn’t happen!!!
_________________________

Late that night—
You carefully ended
Annihilated it

Our reconciliation—
My letter telling you
I still loved you

Wishing surely—
That you’d forgive
Me and Assia
____________________

But you burned it—
My letter in that
Ashtray into cinders

Smiling at me—
Letting the smoking
Shards speak for you

You smiled at me—
Smirking at my double,
Triple exposure
__________________

It was hopeless—
You so calmly blew
The ashes away

I went blind with—
Anger & picked up the
Heavy glass ashtray

Smashing it—
Against your temple
Your ugly face
__________________

You fell down—
On the floor and
I suddenly realized

All was lost—
The police, hospital
Divorce & jail

Now it was far—
Beyond double, treble
Exposure my crimes
____________________

I pulled you over—
To the oven and
Stuffed your head in

What else could—
I do but cover-up my
Murder most foul of you?

The inquest found—
The bruise but nothing
Was ever said about it
______________________

Sylvia already had—
Made up her mind to
Leave me for America

My career would’ve—
Been ruined by a bloody
Murder Scandal

I turned on the gas—
Put towels around the
Bottoms of the doors
______________________

I said goodbye—
To you my poetess
Troubled wife

Then I locked—
The front door behind
Me to cover my tracks

Assia Wevill was—
Next when she got
Ready to squeal
_____________________

It was easy—
The second time
Turning on the gas