In Chapter 12, Poem 16 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet utilizes the recurring Sufi metaphor of the 'dog' (سگ) to represent the carnal self or ego (nafs). The poem depicts the speaker's relentless effort to keep this inner dog suppressed and brought low, questioning how long the ego will continue to stubbornly raise its head in pride. The verse emphasizes the necessity of constant spiritual discipline and the hope that, through persistent suppression, the unruly carnal desires will ultimately be subdued.