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How to Close the Door on Envy

A quiet practice in refusing comparison

By Michelle Liew Tsui-LinPublished 10 months ago β€’ Updated 10 months ago β€’ 1 min read

Envy may linger, but it does not decide what enters.

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

Before Envy comes -

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

Your chest stretches,Β 

A little taut.

You start to watch someone's hundreds -

And his naughts -

Against your own.Β 

Little signs, not failures,

To note.Β 

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

Then pause.Β 

Your life

Needs no ruler

Against his length.Β 

His shadow does not close

Your door.

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

Call his name.Β 

Note the lengthΒ 

Of your own shadow-

Long enough.

No need

To compete.

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

His shadow

Does not rise

To conquer.

Does not grab

Your gain.

Give thanks.Β 

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

Envy's shadow

Persists.

But your door

Can close

And lock.

Your shadow -

Not perfectly aligned-

But formed.Β 

πŸŒ‘πŸšͺ

Original poem by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental

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About the Creator

Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin

Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.

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    Written by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin