Summary

The poem reflects on the inherent discord between the body and mind, likening the human plight to a cursed state of nature.

Abstract

The poem "The hedonist without the means" delves into the existential struggle between the human body and mind, which are depicted as separate entities with limited control over one another. It describes how the body may succumb to decay despite the mind's desperate efforts to survive, and conversely, how the mind can become disordered while the body seeks sustenance and structure. This duality is presented as a unique human burden, a price paid for our place atop the animal kingdom. The poem suggests that the most unfortunate state is to be a hedonist lacking the resources to fulfill one's desires, leading to a life devoid of peace on multiple levels—physical, mental, moral, financial, and earthly.

Opinions

The author implies that the human condition is to be afflicted with a fundamental imbalance due to the separation of mind and body.
There is a sense of helplessness conveyed regarding the mind's inability to fully control the body's fate, and vice versa.
The poem echoes the sentiment that animals, as observed by Robert Burns, do not suffer from this internal conflict to the same extent as humans.
Human beings are portrayed as the current pinnacle of the animal kingdom, a status that comes with the cost of this existential struggle.
The author expresses a bleak outlook on being a hedonist without the means to satisfy one's desires, suggesting it leads to an entirely unpeaceful existence.

The hedonist without the means

A poem

Photo by Maximilien T'Scharner on Unsplash

It is a curse of nature that

our body and mind are

two distinct selves.

One does not have

control, or has the

bare minimum of it, over the other.

Our body perishes even after

our mind does all it can

to survive — kicking,

throwing, grasping, gasping, clutching,

clasping, screaming, punching, running,

jumping, rolling, blacking out and so on

and so forth.

Conversely, our mind

goes array, strays astray,

remains scrambled,

distracted and distressed,

depressed and perplexed,

whereas our body craves

nourishment, activity,

a structured day, exercise,

purpose, routine,

medication, sleep,

comfort, constant

waste disposal and

replenishment.

So this is the basic imbalance

of our existence, which

other animals know not,

if we follow and observe

Robert Burns’

mouse closely. Perhaps, this is

the price we pay for

being the current

King of the Jungle

(but, by no means, the perpetual,

e.g. the dinosaurs

and the possible existence of

superior intelligent beings

out there), the Lord of the Animal Kingdom,

the zenith of the food chain, the

celebrated Ashraful Makhluqat.

Be that as it may, in my humble

experience-derived opinion,

the worst thing to become

is a hedonist without the means.

For, that is a life without physical,

mental, moral, financial or earthly peace.

05.02.22