On Jealous Love

On Jealous Love

Is jealous love still love?

One might suggest that 

The nature of love as pure love,

Or as true love,

Does not include jealousy,

Or does it?

How can one know?

Of what can humankind be really certain?

Is jealous love

Merely a manifestation of love

Somehow hidden behind,

Or sheltered by a curtain?

Jealous love in its corrupt form

Is all-excluding,

Corrosive, disruptive

And derogatory in nature.

Its focus is on its self

And the love of that self,

Not on its proper object of affection.

Jealous love constitutes a fearful love, 

Often deeply ingrained with subtle or overt hatred;

It's afraid of even the shadow of another.

In its own way, 

Jealous love attempts to be protective;

Perhaps it is initially, 

But somehow, it goes astray

As good intent turns to evil.

When taken to an extreme,

Unmasked from its deceptive disguise,

Its true nature is revealed.

It is unkind,

Hurtful and over-protective;

It may become provocative, argumentative

And even downright nasty. 

Its orientation is towards death, 

Not life.

And yet, 

There is jealous love that is good,

The very opposite of adverse jealous love;

It is oriented to life, not death.

Jealous love can still be love,

when it is love that is refined,

Defined by its ultimate loving and kind,

Giving and gracious nature.

Thus there really is jealous love 

That is good,

As well as pseudo jealous love 

That is not good. 

The task of humankind

Is that of distinguishing 

Between the two kinds of jealous love.