The faithful wife of a born-again Christian husband
is a baffled woman.
She will slap her cheeks with a Bible
So that she doesn’t laugh at the jokes of a pastor.
After all her husband is supposed
to provide all the humor that is necessary.
She will hold her aching thighs together
and pray for Jesus to take the masturbating thoughts away
after the landlord reassures her that she’s a good woman
who pays the rent, while her husband does
the work of the Lord.
And when her husband always returns
at 4am from overnight prayers
with sisters from The Salvation of Africa Church
which is God’s calling upon his life
Then she should ask for forgiveness
for not praying like he does.
Even though her libido fills the empty bed
like the serpent in Eden.
Even though the crying baby in the next cot
is God’s gift to her husband.
It’s a miracle, he told her, after the housemaid gave birth.
I have a son.

***

Link to the Italian translation