I loved how you took a metaphysical issue that is usually dealt with in a serious tone and approached it with a playfullness instead. Dr. Seuss would be proud. By the way, in the artwork I imagine the 'Ego' to look kind of like the Lorax.
(to have artwork some day, ala Dr. Suess)
: We walked down the road, my ego and me,
: That is, until mom convinced me,
: To pick up that load and let it decide
: We had to run, we had to hide.
: The more it rode, the more it wanted,
: Until it felt normal for It to decide;
: Until It had total control of my life
: And less of Me was left to bide.
: The Ego it hid behind my name,
: And took my face, and played the Game.
: The Game it played was oh so serious,
: As if It mattered...and then I got curious.
: The Ego It ranted and raved about life,
: And scared strong men, and felt It was right.
: The Ego loved pain, and strife, and feared
: That all would be lost, and nothing was clear.
: Until one day, I blinked My eyes,
: And noticed--how separate from my Ego was I.
: I thought and thought, and wondered and mused,
: If I am not me, then what do I choose?
: CAN I choose to go on, without pain and strife?
: CAN I choose Love, and start to live Life?
: What if I am just my Ego, I cried?
: What if I am, said my Ego—do i die?
: My Ego was shaken, and trembled, and moaned,
: It was a terrible site, for a woman so grown.
: I ordered it OUT, and it fled in fear,
: But stood by my bed, and begged to be near.
: I sent it away then, it looked sad and lost.
: I then lived My life—but at such a cost.
: Fearless and brave, I tried out new things.
: Fearless and carefree, it had such a ring!
: One of those fearless moments came then,
: At a time when I should have my ego as friend.
: My ignorance led to more pain than I’d known,
: And Death came to kiss me, to ask me to go.
: To give up would be easier,
: And better somehow,
: But I couldn’t, I wouldn’t,
: Not then, and not now.
: I learned then about how the ego was formed,
: About it’s great use, about it’s great harm.
: I let it back in, in it’s rightful place,
: As a warning about dangers, not just to save face.
: My ego now sits and obeys Me and minds.
: My ego is grateful, and loving, and kind.
: I love my Life now, with the new freedom it has.
: I love my new freedoms, and I seldom get mad.
: My Path through the painful existence I’d wrought,
: Is offered to you here as more than a thought.
: If your ego becomes way too large and a pain,
: Remember my story and think yet again…
: The ego has reason, a place in the Game,
: The ego’s job is to warn, and so must remain.
: But beware it’s great tendency now and again,
: To grab all it can, to become a big pain.
: Never let it be Ego that commands your great Spirit,
: For only the great “I” knows how best to steer it!
: © 2006 Valerie Olmsted
: All Rights Reserved
