Side Effects

The power of placeboes

Trick the mind with some finesse

And yet their healing power

Is the power you possess

Thus those which promise confidence

Transfix the very source

And make self-love dependent

On external fraud endorsed

And thus, in fact, they weaken

The resistance to self-doubt

Creating feeble addicts

Which eat dust to cure their drought

Then real soul sickness deepens

As they won’t address the cause

But focus on the symptoms

While ignoring self-help laws

Some wear a string of gold and bling

Like garlic ‘round the neck

To ward off social vampires

Their weak egos to protect

Some wear sheik clothes like armor

As protection from derision

Some try to buy acceptance

And endorse a class division

Yet these are all illusions

They add nothing to the soul

Don’t buy into snake oils

Or the bane of doubt will grow

For self-respect cannot be earned

By praise received from others

And independent liberty

Is not safety in numbers

For such will leave the weakest

Of the herd to become food

For this social cohesion

Is but selfishness imbued

So disregard the bleat of sheep

Their hype and bray is gas

Heed not such foolish flatulence

Their talking out their ass

By feeding insecurity

You propagate its life

It then becomes a monster

Which will dominate your life

Yet if you starve the monster

You’ll be surprised to find

That you are the beast’s master

Without you it can’t survive

Such are our little demons

These imps deceive the heart

Imaginary monsters

We fear lurking in the dark

Turn on the light--they vanish

Just call their bluff--they fold

Their bite turns to a bark

Then to a whimper fairly droll

Let go--the beast is toothless!

Fear not its feeble wrath

Such collared beasts will drag you down

A dead end prim rose path

Let go of fear --release it!

The leash is in your hand

This monkey on your back

Is but a “kick me” sign to ban

Let go of pride and glory

Let go of airs and caste

Let go of petty vanity

Let go of your ballast

Let go and rise above it

Let go of cool and class

Let go of these placebos

And their shelf life you’ll outlast