It did not take long,
not long at all
to learn jealousy
has a taste
not bitter,
because bitterness carries a certain pride
an audacity
in its prickliness.
Jealousy is a sickly sort of sweet
that clings to your tongue
even in its absence.
A dish served to you
Often,
by those you most admire.
If you’re good enough
at hiding
the way your face curls in disgust
then it’s a poison
no one
has to know you indulge in.
Jealousy is a spice
that burns at the tongue
tangy,
the sort of heat that
stings
down your spine
scalding your palate
Corroding until
all becomes tasteless
Jealousy is
terrific
at convincing you
that it serves some purpose,
some means to an end
Even
as it tears down the foundations of all that you are
Even
as it stiches you back into an animal of thoughtless emotion
Even
as your envy turns to hate
Jealousy can convince you
you’d be nothing without it
It is the ultimate hindrance
to creation
and the ultimate outcome
of creating.