# Jealousy explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ameen Rihani.

## What happens

The chapter uses floral imagery to depict jealousy, contrasting the receptive violets and robins with the anemone's disdain and the hydrangea's aloofness.

## Key lines

> The violets their soft, dark lashes part, While robins serenade them far and near; But the anemone, with ebon heart And blood-shot eyes, pretends she does not hear.

Violets open their petals as robins sing nearby, but the anemone, with a dark heart and red eyes, feigns indifference.

_The anemone's jealousy is shown through its refusal to acknowledge the violets and robins._

> The violets invite the nightingale Whose carols fall in dew upon their bed; But the hydrangea, as saffron pale, Holds high above the wall her nodding head.

Violets welcome the nightingale's song that lands like dew on them, while the pale hydrangea lifts her head high above the wall, nodding dismissively.

_The hydrangea's jealous posture contrasts with the violets' openness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_2_se/chapters/jealousy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_2_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_2_se/chapters