Work Trip
By Alyssa Curcio
Crisply folded sheets,
strange faces—
the warm bite of Cognac
against my teeth at the hotel bar—
I must admit,
it is all rather romantic.
I’ve been sent to California
(the client needs us!)
and I’ve left my life,
excuse me, my wife,
at home.
I might just understand,
as I kiss a cigarette
on the balcony of my hotel room,
why The Men fought so hard
(they really did try!)
to keep this world from us.
The old boys club,
the working hard
(read: playing hard). . .
I might just jump ship
and join them
in their indignation that
“some things are just sacred!”
Except that
after a drink
(maybe even before)
their wandering hands
would find my thighs
beneath the table
and make me wish
that I was anywhere
but California.
Alyssa Curcio (she/her) is a reproductive justice activist and lawyer whose advocacy has been covered by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and NBC News. Her poetry has been featured in Screen Door Review and Poem Alone. A Virginia native, Alyssa currently lives in New York City.
Photo credit: ChrisGoldNY via a Creative Commons license.
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