ENVY

It enters like an old friend Too familiar to knock Slipping in quietly When joy is about to speak. It frowns at others’ laughter Shudders at joined hands Sours even the sweetest moments Like a worm in ripe fruit. A plague, it spreads Changing faces and shifting names Hard to name and harder to cure It hides behind our smiles. It festers and grows into hate A hollow in the heart we feed Not with love but with longing To be anything but ourselves. Envy is the devil in disguise Polite and persuasive The root of quiet wars And loud silences in the soul.