PAD Day 7: On Jealousy and Gifts

Today's dual prompts from Poetic Asides and NaPoWriMo: (1) Write a poem about jealousy, and (2) write a poem about gifts and joy.  At first these two might seem contradictory, but I managed them to incorporate them into a poem inspired by my wife.

Giving

I am jealous of your gift

of generosity, how you always

know the right thing to give.

You shop with others in mind,

donate to good causes,

help friends in need,

or make something - a scarf,

a batch of cookies - from the heart.

Time and sacrifice mean nothing

as long as you make others happy.

I want to steal that gift -

put my hand to your brow

as you sleep tonight

and lift it from you, if only

for a little while, so I can have

the gift of thoughtfulness

and give you all the things

you've been too selfless to desire.