Id, Ego and Superego

Id, Ego and Superego

He was distraught

Everything he knew turned out to be not

Now his brain is coiling into a knot

Seventeen years old, wondering if he should try pot

He thinks not, but why not?

His left shoulder tells him not to worry, he’ll be fine, he’s smart

His right shoulder tells him it will make his brain rot

His left shoulder tells him his Grandma and Dad do it, so why not he?

His right shoulder tells him the family’s already got two druggies, it doesn’t need three

His left shoulder tells him he’ll have a good time with his friends

His right shoulder tells him it ain’t worth it in the end

His left shoulder tells him, “It’s healthy for you, it enhances your mind”

His right shoulder tells him, “If you smoke it, you lose track of time”

“You won’t even remember this conversation in due time”

“Your brain won’t be fine, it will be his and not mine”

“You’ll be tearing at your face twenty years down the road”

“Smoke now and you’ll be nowhere twenty years down the road”

“You know it has addictive qualities, marijuana forms quickly to cocaine”

“You know you’ll end up insane like Mathers or Cobain”

“F**k the left shoulder, you know he’s just trying to get to you”

“Show him who’s stronger, him or you”

“Don’t act like a stupid sleuth, get a clue”

“You know pot would get to you”

“Your sister’s allergic to it, so is your mother too”

“You have anxiety attacks from the one time you tried it in June”

The left shoulder said in unison, “Fine right shoulder, you have a point”

His friends hopped off his left shoulder, “Let’s blow this joint”

Reviews

[Elwyn]

This poem is really cool because it takes an internal struggle and brings it out to the physical realm. Instead of saying that you were arguing with yourself, you push the debate between your shoulders. I also appreciate the allusion to the cliché devil/angel shoulders without actually naming either one. Naturally, we are drawn to say the right shoulder is representative of the angel, but the fact that you never specifically deemed it as so implies a grey area, which of course is more accurate to real life. Marijuana IS a grey area. There are two extreme opinions and then an infinite amount of in-between opinions. The rhyme scheme in this also holds a note of (this may be the wrong word choice) hysteria. There is ample evidence on both sides, which can be stressful for the reader (assuming most readers have a strong opinion on pot). You also have some fantastic word play at the very end! All in all, this is a really great poem. I'm very proud of you for listening to the right shoulder.