John Lawless Poet Free verse

Ahhh Man - For Contest

AHHH MAN…..

Can’t be tough anymore
…gotta be soft and cuddly
……..but not afraid of spiders or mice.

Can’t talk loud anymore
…you’ll be called angry, or intimidating
……..thus making you a bully.

Can’t strive to be the best
……must be cognizant of the self esteem of others
…………while placating the PC police.

Must know how to jiggle toilet bowl handle
…..after reattaching chain fished from tank
……….SUPERVISED HAND WASHING A REQUIREMENT

Must know how to sort laundry
….NO COLORS in with the whites
……….pink sox and undies are a NO-NO.

Must learn to be a SILENT shoulder
…..to cry on --- to  lean on
……….knowing that you can’t fix it.

Will need to access a feminine side
…..change a diaper --  wash a dish
……….hold a “bag” in plain sight.

Will need the strength of ten
….to contain the love you feel
…..and more – to hold the love you receive.

Must be sure enough in you own sexuality
…..to allow a granddaughter to put bows in your hair
………while you’ve still got some left.

Must be MAN enough to be a MAN
…..to love without fear yet with conviction
……….to accept same –- without betrayal.


John G. Lawless
7/16/2015

submitted to – Men Only #2 – Poetry contest
sponsor – Kelly Deschler

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S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri August 19, 2015 at 11:54 AM 'The strength to contain and hold love' wow. U have presented muse in a unique extraordinary way and thats why yors is a well deservd top win! Congrats.! And tx 4 my wn.

Skat A August 17, 2015 at 2:38 PM John, :-) Congratulations with your wonderful win! *SKAT*

Richard Lamoureux August 15, 2015 at 7:55 PM Good one, it is harder to be a man now then at any other point in history. Congrats! John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 6:07 PM a second pat on the back feels even better then the first... Richard Lamoureux August 15, 2015 at 7:57 PM I see my earlier self was motivated to say almost the same thing *lol*

Kelly Deschler August 15, 2015 at 1:21 PM Congrats on 2nd place! ...Any man would sacrifice his toughness just to make his daughter smile... A very creative and touching poem, John. Really great work! John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 6:05 PM Thanks Kelly, The toughest part is letting go of their hand for the first time....and the second...and the third...and.....

Jan Allison August 15, 2015 at 1:20 PM Dropping back with my congratulations John:-) hugs Jan xx

Richard Lamoureux July 23, 2015 at 8:06 AM Yes I think being a man nowadays has indeed become a complicated endeavour. I too agree that the political correctness pendulum has swung into ridiculous territory. Fantastic piece! John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 6:03 PM Thanks Richard, always good to hear from you, especially with such high praise.

Constance La France July 18, 2015 at 4:07 PM John , it takes a family working together to make a "family" work, a wonderful 7 and thanks for visiting my poem, hydro-licious John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 6:02 PM That it does, BW, that it does. Appreciate the high mark and the visit.

Harry Horsman July 17, 2015 at 5:21 AM Oh this good, John. funny yet the message here loud and clear..the day we lost common sense was the day, the world became as it is today... John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 5:57 PM Alas, Harry, today there is nothing common about common sense. I often told the children I mastered the art of "simple solutions to complex problems" as, Solomon-like, I solved the one cookie, two kids dilemma..You cut - she picks.

Andrea Dietrich July 16, 2015 at 7:16 PM wow, this is amazingly good, JOhn. One of the best poems I have read today. The part about the bows in hair that is hardly there, that was priceless!! John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 5:54 PM Yes, Andrea, grandkids have a way of softening the old stone face. Thanks for taking time to read and comment on this one.

Jan Allison July 16, 2015 at 6:34 PM This sure made me smile John good luck in the contest:) hugs Jan xx John Lawless August 16, 2015 at 5:53 PM Thanks Jan, it is a bit "tongue in cheek" but then again if we saw the "Job description" beforehand the positions would be unfilled.