Andy Morfett Poet Free verse

Puppet

So why do I do what I do?
Do I really have free choice
or am I the product
of social conditioning,
complying with the expected 
conventions and restrictions
placed upon me
by my peers and elders?

Do I live my own life
to my own tune
or am I only dancing
to a well-rehearsed 
step-sequence
laid down in my genes?
Have I the right 
to question the path
of destiny laid down
before I was even born?

Why do I feel
there must somewhere be
a great puppet master
controlling my every action,
for surely my reactions
to people, places, events
are not of my choosing?
Rather, a series of options
in large, non-dimensional boxes
opened at the appropriate moment
to convey fear, joy delight,
or whatever.
I do not feel in control; 
rather, controlled.

And what of my fellow
human racers:
what do they see
when they look at me?
Do they ask of themselves
the same burning question
that haunts my every day:
Who am I?

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Poet Destroyer A April 28, 2016 at 12:30 AM Hi Andy, if you're a puppet, then who's controlling your pen... :) I'm just kidding. I like what you have here. I would not answer who you are. But, I would say, Not even I understand me, control or no control, my strings are all pulled the wrong way...heheh.. Love this. LINDA

Skat A April 25, 2016 at 8:48 PM Interesting for a new poet. LOL, I say you are not the only new poet who has one of these WHO AM I poems... FA... skat Andy Morfett April 27, 2016 at 9:44 AM I am a long way past being a 'new poet', bless you! The poem is at least twenty years old. I remember being told by a poetry magazine editor at the time that almost ALL poets write something similar at some point... so I consider myself in a good company :-)