Be a Man

Begin with private tears, end with tears as memories.
End all the femininities, grip hard to masculinities.
Laugh at the boy in his sister's best Sunday dress.
And then we'll humor ourselves and leave behind our empathy.  
Don't bother to understand differences ... Mock, don't give sympathy!
You better keep Father proud and extricate these emotions at any costs.
You haven't a choice - Look at the boy in the dress and all the manhood he's lost!
This is a man's land, so find a pretty girl and keep her in line.
This is a man's world, and any efforts to equality are fruitless attempts.
Grasp your manhood, perfect patriarchy - There's a crying boy to be held in contempt!
Show your muscle, brag of how in mortal combat the pretty boy ran!
And feel humiliated when she says "To weep is to demonstrate how to be a man."
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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