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MAYDAY magazine

January 9, 2020 Poetry

In Defense of the Marriage Act – Barbara Kreader Skalinder

IN DEFENSE OF THE MARRIAGE ACT

by Barbara Kreader Skalinder

Freshman year – Hell Week hazing
found you bathed in lust.

If only Mrs. Davis LCW
had confirmed your fear you were gay.

Instead you,

the boy I chose,
called me nymphomaniac
on our wedding night,

and I agreed,
put away
my ice-white chemise.

the man I still loved, phoned:
Rescue me. I’m obsessed
with men in jeans,

and I became anorexic
so you could come
with me in my Calvins.

 

the husband I still wanted, hedged:
The “Playgirl” you found –
I bought it for you,

and I morphed
into Victor Victoria,
a woman being a man being a woman.
the man I no longer knew
insisted: Only you think
I’m gay. I’m just stressed,

and I colluded
with this crazy-making confusion,
afraid to be alone.

The father of my children announced
Your mother is leaving me –
 she is mentally ill

and I, the family’s
designated bad guy,
took the hit.

 

 

 

 

 

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Meet the Editors

EXECUTIVE EDITOR David Bowen cofounded MAYDAY Magazinein 2009. His work has appeared in The Literary Review, Colorado Review, Flyway, Serving House Journal, and elsewhere. He completed a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MFA at ...

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Welcome to MAYDAY Published by New American Press, MAYDAY Magazine presents new poetry, fiction, nonfiction, translations, commentary, and visual art to an international community of readers. We hope that you enjoy the current issue. Feel free to browse the back issues, too, and let us know your thoughts. The Editors ...

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