Inner Schweinehund

Hello Universe 274

Today’s poem is inspired by a concept popular in my host country of Germany- “Die Innerer Schweinehund”. Translated literally to “the inner pig dog”, this concept refers to that inner voice that tells you to be lazy, to not do your 100%. I wrote a poem about this concept last year, and today, since my inner Schweinehund is in full force, I am resharing it!

Alright, poem starts in 3… 2… 1!

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The inner Schweinehund
is loudly whispering to me.
It says "Sit back, relax, my dude,
there's nothing more to see.

There's nothing more to do, you know,
there's nothing more to be.
No point in doing anything,
I'm honest, bro, trust me.

This world doesn't deserve your strength,
so, hey, why work at all?
Just eat a snack, don't move or stir,
life's already a ball!

Tomorrow's such a better day
to start that exercise.
Today's too hot, too cold, too wet,
procrastination's wise!

Your bed's a warm sarcophagus
of comfort and delay.
Those dishes? They can wash themselves,
or wait another day.

That project due? A future threat!
Your goals? They're overrated!
Success is just anxiety
that's nicely decorated.

Why climb when you can tumble down?
Why run when you can crawl?
The couch has gravity, my friend,
it's physics, after all!"

The Schweinehund grows louder now,
a lazy hurricane,
while drowning out the signs of
any purpose in my brain.

But wait, what's this? A tiny spark
of "What if I just tried?"
ignites against the oinking bark
that lounges by my side.

I stand. The Schweinehund protests
with grunts of pure dismay.
I stretch. It squeals, "Oh stop it, man,
this is just not okay!"

I wash one dish, then two, then three
the beast begins to wheeze.
I write one word, one line, you see?
Motion gives it unease.

My actions hurt the parasite
who likes me standing still.
That Schweinehund puts up a fight
but cannot match my will.

So now it sits there, small and meek,
a pig-dog barely there,
still oinking barking once a week:
"Are you quite sure you care?"

But I've discovered something true
it's something I've inferred:
Your actions matter much more than
that inner pig-dog's words.

That inner Schweinehund still lives
it never fully dies.
But now I know the antidote:
Don't stop. Just move. Just rise.

---

That’s it! Thanks for reading edition 274 of Hello Universe!

Is your inner Schweinehund getting to you too? What is it saying? Any tips on overcoming it?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

On the way out, here’s a new Map Men:

That’s it for this week, see you next Tuesday!