About Me

My photo
Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

J is for JEALOUSY

Jealousy has often been referred to as the "green-eyed monster." I wondered where this saying originated so turned to the internet to find out. According to "The Phrase Finder," it was possibly coined by Shakespeare in his 1604 play Othello. In it, Iago says:

O beware, my lord, of jealousy;

It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock

The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;

But, O, what damned minutes he tells he o'er

Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!"

Here's my take on jealousy:

JEALOUSY


Jealousy is a green that's hard to define.

It looks like terribly tangled vines.

It sounds like wallowing and whimpering whines.

It smells like a strange scent on his neckline.

It tastes like muddy paranoid pies.

It feels like razor blades when he tells his lies.

Jealousy is sin in others' eyes.

Jubilant and joyful thanks to Denise Nesbitt for starting ABC Wednesday, considering the fact that she's juggling so many things right now - renovating a kitchen is no mean feat! Thanks Denise! If you'd like to participate or peruse the contributions of others, just click HERE.

30 comments:

Powell River Books said...

I never understood Shakespeare in high school, now I know why. - Margy

Roger Owen Green said...

It's not easy being green.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

nancygrayce said...

Jealousy is sometimes not my friend.......

Liz Hinds said...

You've captured it so well, leslie!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Excellent. "Razor blades" are exactly what it feels like!

Jane and Chris said...

Oh, those cats eyes mesemerized me!!
Jane x

Gigi Ann said...

The green eyed monster lurks, ready to creep out when we least expect it.

Carver said...

I like your take on the green eyed monster.

Nanka said...

'J' the green eyed monster looking like tangled vines and making all those sounds....I don't wan't to be 'J' but I love JD and JS :D You know who that is!!

Anonymous said...

Jammin with Shakespeare...Nice

Pheno, ABCW Team

photowannabe said...

Jealousy is definitely a green eyed monster that prowls around until it finds our weakness.
Good stuff Leslie.

Meryl said...

Great imagery in prose and art!

Tina´s PicStory said...

I like this cat eye :)

Karen said...

Green is a good colour for jealousy. I like your poem.

Kim, USA said...

Oh my this word can kill anybody ^_^ It drives men and women crazy. If not to be tame or reign this will lead a havoc in anyone's life. Perfect for this week them Leslie!

ABC Wed

Hildred said...

Like your poem Leslie, - jealousy is such a hurtful emotion, but hard to avoid sometimes.

Kay L. Davies said...

A dreadful thing, jealousy, leading to violence and often death.
Good post, Leslie. Many thanks to you and the other bard.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Joy said...

You can depend on Shakespeare to come up a vivid metaphor. I wonder if anybody has ever counted the number of sayings we use which originated with him.

EG CameraGirl said...

Wow! I never would have guesses "green with jealousy" was such an old expression!

Chronicles of Illusions said...

Loved reading this - great take on J and jealousy - what a great photo of the cat's eye

VioletSky said...

I think you have captured Jealousy perfectly.

Tumblewords: said...

Perfect! What a fascinating eye - surely green enough for jealousy...

Rajesh said...

Jealousy blinds a person from reality.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Jealousy is very unhealthy. I like the term green eyed monster, very fitting,.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Jealousy-a manifestation of our insecurity or lack of trust?
Not a healthy emotion to harbor...

mrsnesbitt said...

Tis a very negative, consuming emotion - along with envy don't you think?
Great take Leslie.
Denise ABC Team

Reader Wil said...

The green cat's eye is very beautiful, so this is probably not the eye of jealousy!
I understand your poem better than Shakespeare's.

nonizamboni said...

I think I might have eaten a muddy paranoid pie or two in my time. :O)

Nice translation!

Shrinky said...

I studied Othello in my English Lit class - it's powerful stuff! I'm so glad I don't live with that green-eyed monster, it's so destructive! Love the poem, I think it sums it up pretty well.

Don't forget to email me about your trip!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

jealousy is not my friend either .. it eats you up and destroys us.

I still don't understand Shakespeare ... !!