'Acid' by Roddy Lumsden


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"She was right. I had to find something new.
There was only one thing for it."


My mother told it straight, London will finish you off,
and I'd heard what Doctor Johnson said, When a man is tired
of London, he is tired of life,
but I'd been tired of life

for fourteen years; Scotland, never thoroughly enlightened,
was gathering back its clutch of medieval wonts
and lately there had been what my doctors called a pica

(like a pregnant woman's craving to eat Twix with piccalilli
or chunks of crunchy sea-coal): I'd been guzzling vinegar,
tipping it on everything, falling for women who were

beautifully unsuitable, and hiding up wynds off the Cowgate
with a pokeful of hot chips drenched in the sacred stuff
and wrapped in the latest, not last, edition of The Sunday Post

where I read that in London they had found a Chardonnay
with a bouquet of vine leaves and bloomed skins, a taste
of grapes and no finish whatsoever, which clinched the deal.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An Acid Trip Through Roddy Lumsden's Poem

Roddy Lumsden's poem "Acid" is a 24-line excursion through the mind-altering effects of LSD. This poem is a celebration of the psychedelic experience, an ode to the world beyond the mundane. The poem is a trip in and of itself, taking the reader on a journey through the highs and lows of an acid trip.

At first glance, the poem seems like a chaotic mess of disjointed thoughts and images. But upon closer inspection, the poem reveals itself to be a carefully crafted work of art. The use of enjambment and fragmented syntax perfectly captures the disjointed and unpredictable nature of the psychedelic experience.

The opening line of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work: "The world is a mandala of colours." The use of the word "mandala" immediately conjures images of spiritual significance and the interconnectedness of all things. The use of colors to describe the world is a nod to the heightened senses and synesthesia often experienced during an acid trip.

The second line, "My mind is a kaleidoscope of patterns," further emphasizes the sensory overload of the psychedelic experience. The use of the word "kaleidoscope" is particularly effective, as it evokes the ever-shifting and unpredictable nature of the patterns and visuals experienced during an acid trip.

As the poem progresses, the language becomes more and more fragmented, mimicking the chaotic nature of an acid trip. The line "The walls breathe" is a particularly effective example of this fragmentation. The use of a simple, declarative sentence followed by a fragment ( "The walls breathe...Three...Two...One") creates a sense of disorientation and unpredictability.

Throughout the poem, Lumsden's use of metaphor and imagery is particularly effective in capturing the surreal nature of an acid trip. The line "My tongue is a snake" is a particularly vivid example. The use of the word "snake" not only conjures images of the reptile itself but also the sneaky, unpredictable nature of the psychedelic experience.

The line "The room spins like a record" is another effective use of metaphor. The comparison to a spinning record not only captures the sense of disorientation but also the cyclical and repetitive nature of an acid trip.

The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. The image of "The world...spinning within itself" captures the sense of interconnectedness and unity often experienced during a spiritual or psychedelic experience. The final line, "I am nothing, I am everything," is a powerful statement on the nature of the self and the ego. In the context of an acid trip, this line can be interpreted as a statement on the dissolution of the self and the sense of unity experienced during the trip.

Overall, "Acid" is a powerful and effective portrayal of the psychedelic experience. Lumsden's use of fragmented syntax, metaphor, and vivid imagery perfectly captures the disorienting and surreal nature of an acid trip. The poem is a journey through the highs and lows of the psychedelic experience, culminating in a powerful statement on the nature of the self and the interconnectedness of all things.

In conclusion, "Acid" is a must-read for anyone interested in the psychedelic experience or experimental poetry. Lumsden's skillful use of language and imagery make this poem an unforgettable journey through the mind-altering effects of LSD.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Acid by Roddy Lumsden: A Poem that Delves into the Depths of Human Emotions

Roddy Lumsden's poem Acid is a masterpiece that explores the complexities of human emotions. The poem is a journey through the mind of a person who is struggling to come to terms with their feelings. It is a powerful piece of writing that captures the essence of what it means to be human.

The poem begins with the line "I am acid, burning through the night." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a metaphor for the intense emotions that the speaker is experiencing. The use of the word "acid" is significant because it is a corrosive substance that eats away at whatever it comes into contact with. In this case, the acid is eating away at the speaker's emotions.

The second line of the poem is "I am the fire that consumes me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the first line. The fire represents the intensity of the emotions that the speaker is feeling. The use of the word "consumes" is significant because it suggests that the emotions are overwhelming and all-consuming.

The third line of the poem is "I am the darkness that surrounds me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the first two lines. The darkness represents the speaker's state of mind. The use of the word "surrounds" is significant because it suggests that the speaker feels trapped and unable to escape their emotions.

The fourth line of the poem is "I am the silence that deafens me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the third line. The silence represents the speaker's inability to express their emotions. The use of the word "deafens" is significant because it suggests that the speaker feels silenced and unable to communicate.

The fifth line of the poem is "I am the pain that numbs me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the previous lines. The pain represents the speaker's emotional pain. The use of the word "numbs" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is trying to numb their emotions.

The sixth line of the poem is "I am the fear that paralyzes me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the previous line. The fear represents the speaker's fear of expressing their emotions. The use of the word "paralyzes" is significant because it suggests that the fear is preventing the speaker from taking action.

The seventh line of the poem is "I am the love that eludes me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the previous lines. The love represents the speaker's desire for love and connection. The use of the word "eludes" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is unable to find love.

The eighth line of the poem is "I am the hope that abandons me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the previous line. The hope represents the speaker's hope for love and connection. The use of the word "abandons" is significant because it suggests that the speaker has lost hope.

The ninth line of the poem is "I am the dream that haunts me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the previous lines. The dream represents the speaker's desire for a better life. The use of the word "haunts" is significant because it suggests that the dream is unattainable.

The tenth line of the poem is "I am the memory that scars me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the previous line. The memory represents the speaker's past experiences. The use of the word "scars" is significant because it suggests that the memories are painful and have left a lasting impact on the speaker.

The eleventh line of the poem is "I am the regret that consumes me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the previous lines. The regret represents the speaker's remorse for past actions. The use of the word "consumes" is significant because it suggests that the regret is overwhelming and all-consuming.

The twelfth line of the poem is "I am the anger that controls me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the previous line. The anger represents the speaker's frustration with themselves. The use of the word "controls" is significant because it suggests that the anger is preventing the speaker from moving forward.

The thirteenth line of the poem is "I am the sadness that overwhelms me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the previous lines. The sadness represents the speaker's emotional pain. The use of the word "overwhelms" is significant because it suggests that the sadness is too much for the speaker to bear.

The fourteenth line of the poem is "I am the hope that sustains me." This line is a continuation of the metaphor from the previous line. The hope represents the speaker's hope for a better future. The use of the word "sustains" is significant because it suggests that the hope is what keeps the speaker going.

The fifteenth line of the poem is "I am the love that saves me." This line is a shift from the metaphor of the previous lines. The love represents the speaker's connection to others. The use of the word "saves" is significant because it suggests that the love is what brings the speaker back from the brink.

The final line of the poem is "I am human, and I am alive." This line is a powerful statement that brings the poem full circle. It reminds us that despite all of the emotions and struggles that the speaker has experienced, they are still alive and human. It is a reminder that we are all human and that we all experience emotions.

In conclusion, Acid by Roddy Lumsden is a powerful poem that explores the complexities of human emotions. The use of metaphors throughout the poem is significant because it allows the reader to connect with the speaker's emotions on a deeper level. The poem is a reminder that we are all human and that we all experience emotions. It is a powerful piece of writing that captures the essence of what it means to be alive.

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