dressed up to go, she climbed upon the bed 
and modeled her new look for him, and he 
was thinking now that he would rather stay 
at home then face a party and the hours 

but off they went, and he could see the looks 
of men and women watching her walk by 
the smiles exchanged, although some showed the rue 
that they weren't her, or weren't themselves with her -- 

yes, envy is a thing: a shallow thing. 
It focuses upon what isn't there; 
and he observed, and wondered at it all, 
enjoying her, anticipating when 

they'd leave the noise and looks and head back home 
into the privacy of love and bed