I once asked my ego what makes it go
What with vainglory vanity and pride,
I once asked my ego what makes it go:
It’s not me who’s on a vainglorious ride,
Nor arrogance a gas that makes me blow,
And vanity the vehicle that I use,
Nor I, me, mine be my identity,
No airs of pride in me ever suffuse,
What I can’t stand, soul’s ancient vanity.
It boasts to be the big daddy behind,
My claim nigh humble is and down to earth,
Unlike soul, I am my own unique kind,
Discerning few get to know my true worth,
I stand for reason, sanity well-nigh,
Confuse me not with id, nor super I.
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Sonnet |01.09.2005| Self, ego
Poet’s note: Ego is one’s orientation with body, mind and intellect, as against with soul, the true Self. Yet, without a bit of ego orientation, one is as good as dead. Freud gave the terms id, ego, and super ego, which someone interpreted as ‘it’, the ‘I’, and ‘beyond I’. Here in this light-hearted piece, ego points an accusing finger at id, and super ego, while pulling soul’s leg. The mood of the poem is tongue-in-cheek.
Copyright ©
Aniruddha Pathak
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