when jealousy envy or greed arise
these harmful emotions blend
like black gooey molasses
casting me down
causing others to frown
soiling my mood brown
they bubble and simmer
offering love little glimmer
as they fester like a boil
causing deep inner turmoil
the poison seeps out
staining everything about
it castes darkness
breeds hatred
erupts unexpected
all control is lost
at enormous cost
my soul tossed frost
why do I entertain
such blatant destruction
that hijacks all joy
such hatred blemishes
divisive manipulative
it rusts any trust
rots me inside out
if I don’t give it a clout
sabotages quality of life
embroils me in strife
its sinister
and can become fatal
as morality spirals out
family and friends lost
why pay such a cost ….
my pic of shags on a dead tree … life sucked out!
Eloquently said Kate. Hate and envy are poison to the soul.
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Well said.
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You composed this so beautifully and full of all aspects. These emotions are definitely painful to deal with. Especially toxic when the envy is subtly interwoven in some close and possibly well meaning relation – affecting how it keeps affecting us internally yet nothing to point to, until you do realize, and perhaps have to let go sadly.
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oh well said, but when it’s a close relative or colleague that becomes very tricky … and the more subtle the more insidious 😦
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Very suitable analogy! Indeed, it takes a heavy cost! This resonates, sis.
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So true. Why to compare anyways.
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Excellent, timely, and important poem, Kate!!!
Love the comparison to molasses! That is so true! Those emotions ARE harmful and do come with a heavy price to pay! And they do rob us of joy, peace, unity, etc.
I prefer kindness, goodwill, generosity! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤ 🙂
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Oh the jealousy… it can destroy so much,
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My favorite line is “It rusts any trust.”
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Amen!
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A lethal combination!
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It is most certainly lucifer that loves to sow hatred, envy and greed into one’s mind and soul. May we rise above it.
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we can blame him but we are fools to entertain such spiteful guests, thanks Sanaa!
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Kate, I agree that jealousy and envy are destructive. They can sap your energy and destroy your happiness. We must learn to let those negative emotions go. Realizing that everyone has their share of joys and sorrows may be a starting point.<3
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agreed Cheryl but that’s assuming others are as logical as us 😦
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Such a cost indeed. Well done, Kate.
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A great poem Kate to challenge us all. It happens to all of us from time to time. The problem is recognizing what is happening and making the corrections. I get that way when I see all the craziness and stupidity going on around. It eats me up if I let it. I try to keep busy and refocus! Thanks for your good thoughts.
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your art must be a great way to overcome the overwhelming Dwight, use every tool you’ve got!
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Felt this!
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What a perfect description of jealousy, envy and greed, Kate – ‘black gooey molasses’, as are the phrases ‘soiling my mood brown’ and ‘rusts any trust’! So much festering in this poem, makes me wonder why not everyone who is jealous, envious or greedy feels it; if they did, the world would be a better place.
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Negative emotions are often more destructive to the person holding them than to the object of their anger. It’s a constant struggle to acknowledge them but keep your head above water and move into a better frame of mind. (K)
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Kate, your words merge both the darkness of nature as personified in our own souls. Seeing life sucked out of a decaying tree stump takes me to my own final journey.
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Jealousy envy or greed are certainly not factors of love and peace , Kate.
Love ❤
Michel
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Turmoil is contagious, darkness is deadly, your poem speaks quite eloquently to all of it.
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You’re so right with this one, Kate:
‘all control is lost
at enormous cost
my soul tossed frost’
Why do we do it to ourselves?
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A reminder that grudges can be so destructive. Forgiveness does not mean we have to forget, but in forgiving we can grow ourselves and perhaps spark reconciliation with others. Though sometimes when I read some of the advice columns – it seems that some folks are in such a rut that they make joy out of being nasty. And sometimes in order to find peace one needs to void themselves of the nasty completely in order to bring joy back into their own lives.
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as someone has pointed out … many have no wish to change so stepping right away is safest but tricky when it’s relatives 😦
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I’m trying to let go of the negativity but every time I divest the news shouts another iniquity from the POTUS. It is a never ending battle to find a “happy place” where the negative emotions can slide off and be washed away.
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