I am seeking poems with a theme of jealousy or envy. Can anyone please help?
Many thanks in anticipation.
Do a search for 'jealousy' in this forum, and in the Homework Assistance forum, and you'll find previous posts on this topic.
This morning I was thinking of the Shakespeare sonnet that begins:
"When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes..."
Basically, it says: When I am feeling jealous and envious of everybody, all I have to is remember that I have YOU, and then I feel that I'm the lucky one."
The poem by Edgar Allan Poe title Annabel Lee is about jealousy and love
One of my favorite poets/singer/songwriter/musician is Natalie Merchant.
Jealousy Lyrics
Jealousy
O, jealousy
is she fine
so well bred
the perfect girl
a social deb?
is she the sort
you've always thought
could make you
what you're not?
o, jealousy
is she bright
so well read
are there novels
by her bed?
is she the sort
that you've always said
could satisfy
your head?
o, my jealousy
does she talk
the way I do
is her voice reminding you
of the promises
the little white lies too
sometimes, tell me
while she's touching you
just by mistake
accidentally do you say my name? "
If we're doing lyrics, how about the Gin Blossoms:
HEY JEALOUSY Lyrics
(Doug Hopkins)
Tell me do you think it'd be all right
If I could just crash here tonight
You can see I'm in no shape for driving
And anyway I've got no place to go
And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I'd ever had
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might not be alone
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place...hey jealousy
And you can trust me not to think
And not to sleep around
If you don't expect too much from me
You might not be let down
Cause all I really want is to be with you
Feeling like I matter too
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place...hey jealousy
She took my heart
There's only one thing I couldn't start
Les
Song lyrics:
IN TIMES WHEN MY HEAD WAS TOGETHER ABOUT YOU
by Carly Simon
I love Carly Simon's lyrics. Sometimes they don't rhyme or scan very gracefully, but I don't care because they get to the point. She wrote a song called "Riverboat Gambler" sung by a girl in love with a ... yes:
riverboat gambler. And it contains the line: "I WANT YOU TO WIN." That is so direct, it's amazing.
"In Times When" is about a woman who feels no jealousy at all until she herself cheats, and then she's eaten up by the fear that he will too.
DISHONEST MODESTY
by Carly Simon
This song about someone who yearns TO BE ENVIED. It contains this couplet:
"If you have no time for all your offers, you'll see that I get called.
And if you have no time for all your men, you'll see that I get balled."
How about this one?
'I Can't Think What He Sees In Her'
by A.P.Herbert
Jealousy's an awful thing and foreign to my nature;
I'd punish it by law if I was in the Legislature.
One can't have all of any one, and wanting it is mean,
But still, there is a limit, and I speak of Miss Duveen.
I'm not a jealous woman,
But I CAN'T see what he sees in her,
I can't see WHAT he sees in her,
I can't see what he SEES in her!
If she was something striking
I could understand the liking,
And I wouldn't have a word to say to that;
But I can't see why he's fond
Of that objectionable blonde--
That fluffy little, stuffy little, flashy little, trashy little,
creepy-crawly, music-hally, horrid little CAT!
I wouldn't say a word against the girl--be sure of that;
It's not the creature's fault she has the manners of a rat.
Her dresses may be dowdy, but her hair is always new,
And if she squints a little bit--well, many people do.
I'm not a jealous woman,
But I CAN'T see what he sees in her,
I can't see WHAT he sees in her,
I can't see what he SEES in her!
He's absolutely free--
There's no bitterness in me,
Though an ordinary woman would explode;
I'd only like to know
What he sees in such a crow
As that insinuating, calculating, irritating, titivating,
sleepy little, creepy little, sticky little TOAD!
Wonderful!
Those would be great lyrics for a show tune!
They posibly were, Herbert did write lyrics for Viven Ellis' music. Bless the Bride is one of theirs.
This one first appeared in 'Punch', as did a lot of APH's verse.
Here's another one worthy of inclusion in this thread:
The Whole Truth
by Judith Viorst
He always called her honey and
She always called him sweetie and
He always brought her flowers and
She always stroked his hair.
Their beautiful relationship was
What a marriage should be and
The rest of us regarded it with
Envy and despair.
She always called him lover and
He always called her baby and
She always praised his brilliance and
He always praised her wit.
No wife was more adoring and
No husband more devoted and
The rest of us were jealous I’m
Embarrassed to admit.
He always called her dearest and
She always called him darling and
He always hugged and kissed her and
She always held him tight.
They just announced they’re filing for
Divorce tomorrow morning and
The news has filled the rest of us with
Absolute delight.
JV is a psychologist living and writing in Washington DC. She has written some great light verse about family life. If you like this sample, which is from her book 'How did I get to be 40 & other atrocities', buy her books!
My favorite of hers is 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day.'
pam
Either I read too quick, or no one mentioned Richard Cory