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

🌑🚪

Before Envy comes –

🌑🚪

Your chest stretches, 

A little taut.

You start to watch someone’s hundreds –

And his naughts –

Against your own. 

Little signs, not failures,

To note. 

🌑🚪

Then pause. 

Your life

Needs no ruler

Against his length. 

His shadow does not close

Your door.

🌑🚪

Call his name. 

Note the length 

Of your own shadow-

Long enough.

No need

To compete.

🌑🚪

His shadow

Does not rise

To conquer.

Does not grab

Your gain.

Give thanks. 

🌑🚪

Envy’s shadow

Persists.

But your door

Can close

And lock.

Your shadow –

Not perfectly aligned-

But formed. 

🌑🚪

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

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