What is the self to do with itself?

I attended a talk
entitled
What is the self to do with itself?

I was already of the opinion
that it should stop wandering
from room to room like a lost soul.
That it shouldn’t stare too long at itself.
That it should cease
taking endless selfies of itself.
That, perhaps, it shouldn’t take itself
too seriously?

The talk, itself, left us to consider the idea
that the self should empty itself of itself,
tell its ego where to go and let it go
and not follow it.

It should have no need of praise,
no need to ingratiate itself,
no need to conform or rebel,
no need to explain itself to anyone,
have no need of need.

After the talk we clapped
and took ourselves
off to the pub
where we sat ourselves down
and drank Guinness
(which we had a great need of).


Hold On To Yourself