Instincts Versus Reasoning

Poem on animal instincts versus human reasoning.

Instincts Versus Reasoning


The big question,
The big battle,
Should we listen to our reasoning?
Or surrender to our instincts?

We, as human beings, are animals.
We have animal instincts.
But the difference between us and animals
Is that we can also reason.

So when do the two collide?
When do we know which to live by?
When do we have to choose?
Are we going to win or lose?

Each day, each thought is a war
Between what is less and
What is more.
Should I do this?

I ask myself in the mirror.
I weigh the pros against the cons.
Yet, somehow, I still have no answer.

I want to, I know it.
I am able to, I know it.
It can be my little secret and I know it.

But somehow, I can’t get out of my head
Thoughts of those who love me
Memories of my friends
Feelings of myself as I plea



There’s a part of me that wants it
There’s a part of me denying
There’s a problem here in my mind
Something that cannot be defined.