Derek Chos Poet Free verse

Do You, As Men, Understand Me?

Can you hear me? Are we connected?
As people born with the penetrating organ
What was growing up like for you?
What did it mean to be a "man?"

For me, my models were bullies
Testosterone masses who swung at any slight
"Quit your crying, men don't do that"
As another path was closed to a clenched fist

Fist to face, fist to chest
Bone on skin and repeat again
The endless scraps those boys desired
As I retreated as far as I could

Hounded down to Earth's end
A victim himself rained blows upon me
To "fix" what was perceived as feminine within me
And merely building resentment that never cured

So here we are, so many decades later
Having achieved just as much in life
Yet we sing to therapists
About how masculinity harmed us

What, to you, does it mean to be a man?
I couldn't wait to shed that shell
No matter how buff, burly and bearded my body made me
I'd never be what your father wanted for us

So what has it done for you?
Rich, but alone
Wandering with only a predator's praise in your ear
Praise you've long learned is just bait

So what does it mean to be a man?
What did being born with balls do for us
Beyond be victims to a keyboardist's vile machinations?
Why did I have to bleed for your struggles?

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