Threesome - A Social Work Poem

By Gregory Gross, MSW

Every night at 4 a.m., after 40 years

the flat of my hand leaves the small

of her back to accelerate

the rollover, my face to the wall,

to look out through morning darkness

to my other spouse.

I am also married to my job.

Nightly I yearn for my daily cheat.

This other woman offers much happiness

But little comfort.

“Your precious wife can have your hoary heart.

I leave her your loins, as well,

And your hype, your hope, and your hunger.”

She mocks my morningglow with her own meretriciousness.

Cares not a whit about our one thousand offspring

together.

Nor about joys or jealousies of ideas and

those who would make or decry them.

“Oh, yes, she can have your heart. The

Marriage of true minds’ impediments, too.

I’ll settle for your soul, Luv.”

Come lie with me.

Gregory Gross, MSW, has taught in the Social Work Department at The College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, since 1977.  Special interests include HBSE, practice, eastern and western theatre, postmodernism, and his role as an editor for THE JOURNAL OF PROGRESSIVE HUMAN SERVICES.