Great Advances in Vanity, Michael Ryan

Major progress is: in the act of embracing ourselves
we do not do so because of cold, fear,
but out of absolute -- which is healthy,
the magazines say -- self-love, which is healthy,
a positive self-image is healthy,

all the experts say,
and less effort
than loving another. I am I, therefore
I am good: love thyself
selflessly, that's OK. And if

you want me, or want me
to want you, or want to
sell me something, then tell me
I'm beautiful. If there is a blank anywhere
in your life, an abyss tucked high up behind your breast bone,

or a black molecule of doubt
in your soul, well then,
fill in that blank,
palimpsest that abyss, that doubt with optimism: you can!
In the mirror in the morning say

this: I like myself. This
is your iambic diameter mantra, say it,
and all the rest that diminishes you
will disappear down the bones of your face,
will die all night outside your door,

will file away like a line of ants.
Say it, say it: I'm beautiful,
I'm loved -- and then wager it all,
all of the ice, all of it,
on the ice to win.