Twenty years
and a million tears,
a river under the bridge,
my husband left me
for you.
Swooping and strutting,
preening with pleasure
glossy and sleek –
you feathered your nest
at the expense of mine.
Heartless harpy!
Brassy strumpet!
Your bugle blast of beauty
made my man dance
to a different tune.
How I envied what you had –
your sexual power
my man in your clutches
a captive to your charms.
Now here you are
crossing the street in town.
Your eyes meet mine,
slide over the painful past
then look away.
I screech with a wild cry
delighted to be free
of envy’s glittering eye.
HAAA! HAAA! HAAA! HAAA!
The last laugh is mine.
Your brow furrowed
with divorce’s grimace,
your plumage grey with grief,
you duck your head
and waddle past.
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| Writing Prompt |
Write a poem that involves one of the seven deadly sins |
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Deadly Sins
Contest Winner
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Author Notes
Author's Note:
ENVY is one of the Seven deadly sins in Roman Catholicism. In the Book of Genesis envy is said to be the motivation behind Cain murdering his brother, Abel, as Cain envied Abel because God favoured Abel's sacrifice over Cain's. Envy is, therefore, deeply ingrained in human nature. It is an emotion which occurs when a person lacks another's perceived superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it. Envy and gloating have parallel psychological structures as emotions.
Relevant points to my poem:
1. Envying others is pointless. Live your own best life.
2. It pays to keep up appearances for when others lose theirs.
3. The best revenge is to live successfully.
4. If your man leaves you for another, he's just proved that he's not worth having anyway.
Spare your tears. You are worth more.
(Graphic by phineus jason, at kisspng.)
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