The Little Self

I came out alone to meet you;
but another in the silent dark follows
me despite my move aside to avoid
his presence and I escape him not.

He is, my own little self, my ego
making dust rise from the earth
with his conceit, adding his loud voice
to every word that I utter.

My own little self, actually my lord
knows no shame; but I am ashamed
to come knocking on your door
to meet you in his company.

Adopted from Tagore’s Gitanjali, poem 30

Henry Victor          03.10.2012