Men and Emotions
That men have no emotions is a misconception
But we drop them with little reception
So we bottle them up inside
Ironically finding the bottom of the bottle to confide
Men are taught to be strong
And that any weakness is wrong
But in my 28 years I've found
These are lies and the truth might astound
Take for instance the little boy with skinned knees
Who happened to fall while enjoying the breeze
Maybe comfort that little boy when he feels weak
Instead of making him feel meek
Men get so used to holding it all in
Until their soul bursts from within
And they lash out in violence
Because they've suffered in silence
And I'll be the first to say it shouldn't be that way
Not day after day after day
Men are taught not to talk
And yet when they strike out we simply balk
At the idea that maybe the problem is institutional
And we might have to move away from the conventional
When men have a higher rate of suicide
And men are more likely to be victims of homicide
There's a toxicity in the foundation
That doesn't fit the narrative of the news station
We're just taught that's the way men are
But this damned lie has been spread too far
To get rid of violence
You must eradicate silence
And some will argue men have every opportunity
But tell that to a young man in the inner city
Who is so used to a cycle of drugs, thugs, and crime
Perpetuated by the media all the time
He's just trying to survive
In a world that will never see him thrive
But as a poet I feel there's something strong in verse
And this social construct is something we can reverse
And I don't condone murder and rape
Just that men need a safe place to escape
And no place is safer than the written word
So encourage your sons to be written and heard
Give them outlets to express their pain
And that it's okay to think with their brain
Instead of resorting to their fists
When they're lost, afraid, and pissed
So that we know men having no emotion is a misconception
Maybe next time give them a little reception
Copyright © Christopher Goss | Year Posted 2018
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