What was it?

[Lyn05]

It brought to my heart
A sprinkle of salt
That made me wince

A dapple of sourness
That removed all ease

A kind of pain and longing
That induced a silent cry

But what was it?

Ah, yes,
It was envy.

Others could weave
Breathtaking magic out of words;

Mine was but a mere
Flicker of a candle flame

[qimissung]

Clever!

[firefangled]

Nice choices. The opening drew me in.

[PrinceMyshkin]

It brought to my heart
A sprinkle of salt
That made me wince

A dapple of sourness
That removed all ease

A kind of pain and longing
That induced a silent cry

But what was it?

Ah, yes,
It was envy.

As one who is given overly much to envy myself, I can sympathize with this - but as a poem and as an indictment of your envy, wouldn't it have been a good idea to at least at what was envied?

I did very much enjoy the first three couplets.

[Lyn05]

Thank you for leaving comments qimissung, firefangled and PrinceMyshkin!

Prince, perhaps it would have been better if I added the following after the last line?

Others could weave
Breathtaking magic out of words;

Mine was but a mere
Flicker of a candle flame

[blazeofglory]

It brought to my heart
A sprinkle of salt
That made me wince

A dapple of sourness
That removed all ease

A kind of pain and longing
That induced a silent cry

But what was it?

Ah, yes,
It was envy.

This prickly poem penetrates deeper and deeper. So simple and touching.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Thank you for leaving comments qimissung, firefangled and PrinceMyshkin!

Prince, perhaps it would have been better if I added the following after the last line?

Others could weave
Breathtaking magic out of words;

Mine was but a mere
Flicker of a candle flame

Yes, I think so, assuming that was indeed the source of your envy and, if it was, perhaps the title should hint at the origin or specific target of it? But yes, I much prefer having these lines than to be left with the very amorphous "envy."

[Lyn05]

Thanks for commenting, blazeofglory!
And thank you for the advice, Prince!