The Poet Writes a Short Note to His Wife

Dear M --

Please understand
And try to forgive me
Though I consider myself
A most happily married man

Infidelity was never
On the agenda but
To conceive of a poem
Entails fundamental risk
Not unlike
Having unprotected sex
In the hope
However strange
Of becoming
Impregnated by
The Truth

And by such means
My good health
And sanity
Have at times
Undoubtedly
Been compromised