A nasty
green-eyed monster
lurks in the midst

I should have sensed
I should have smelled
I should have …
but I did not
believe

… slithering

at first slowly,
and now
angrily hastening its visit
I await the striking venom
of envy …
how coy the words of deceit!

tiger, fox
weasel
…
all frown in disgust
for they have been outwitted

and now
I rise above
...
readying myself
for
these foul-smelling,
low flying
… clouds of games
... of wit

© 2000 Charlotte Gai Mair