Auden's Very Own Public Service Announcement

Just got done reading through another Auden poem.  I was "hooked" after reading its title: "Cocaine Lil and Morphine Sue."  Already one knows it has something to do with drugs ("Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" comes to mind).  After reading through it I got the impression that Auden had a bone to pick with cocaine and morphine, or addictive drugs in general.  However, the poem must have been written for a bigger purpose, but I thought it was interesting that the work read like a rhythmic public service announcement.  I'm not insulting anything about the poem.  It rhymed nicely and wasn't in a lofty language, which makes it easier to grasp.

The message the poem seemed to convey was pretty simple, but that does not mean a closer reading couldn't bring new insight to the table.  I think the main underlying concept is the impact that addictions have on people.  The common denominator in everything Cocaine Lil did  (and how she looked) was you guessed it snorting cocaine, which is very addictive.  The drug gave Lil some of the best experiences of her life from a social standpoint, but was her downfall just like using any other illicit substance.

Strangely enough as I was reading and rereading the work, the TV show "Breaking Bad" came to mind.  Walter White and Lil both lead lives centered around addictive substances.  An even closer connection would be between Lil and Jesse Pinkman, Walt's friend and co-conspirator.  Even though Jesse does not currently use meth, he was an avid user in the past seasons.  In comparing and contrasting Walt's experiences as a meth cook and Lil's experiences as a user, one sees how on both sides of the drug trade addictions can still be a powerful motivator.  I have not spoiled anything about the show.  As a final note on "Breaking Bad," I consider it great (IMDB gave it a 9.4 out of 10!).

In conclusion, "Cocaine Lil and Morphine Sue" is on the surface a public service announcement, but a closer reading can show that it might be a statement on the impact of addictions and how they can lead ultimately to one's demise.