Best Poems Written by Tyrone Ruff

Tears of a Hero

Tears of a hero

Tears of a hero, they say I supposed to be a tough guy..So I can’t let the tears show.

But with these feelings I’m having its getting hard to conceal though.

8 years on the force, 23 years of age when I started…I was just a kid trying to find my way, with a kid on the way. Road map was uncharted.  Little did I know the journey I was embarking would be a long hard journey, but a rewarding journey I must add.  Although here lately the things I been seeing...have been making me sad.

But they said I’m supposed to be a tough guy…so I can’t let the tears show.  But with these feelings I’m having it’s getting harder to conceal though.

Playing dual roles, on the streets I protect and serve with honor.  At home none of that matters, I’m just a husband and a father.  Raising my 2 young ones teaching them right from wrong.  They love me with or without the uniform.  They don’t know they are those who hate me..Because I wear the uniform.

I chose this job  for a reason, I wanted to make a difference you could see.  Although sometimes it seems the person needing help…is me.
But they said I supposed to be a tough guy so I can’t let the tears show, with the feelings I’m having it’s getting harder to conceal though.

I’m referred to as the officer in blue, often times forgetting I’m a human just like you/ they say I’m emotionless and seem so detached.  But listen the emotions are there…just suppressed.
Working nights calling home to my lovely wife just to say “hey baby, I may be home late”.  Her reply “just please…make it home safe”.

I put my life on the line but it’s cool because…that’s what I signed up for.  To serve and protect, put my right hand on the bible, that’s what I swore.
But the memories and images of the things I have seen are sometimes hard to ignore.  But they said I supposed to be a tough guy so I can’t let the tears show.  These feelings I’m having they getting harder to conceal though.


You see..I don’t get praise for all that I do.  That’s ok but it hurts when things are said about me that are so untrue.  We are living in a time where perception is reality and police brutality is perceived as a common normality which is a fallacy but the media deceives so you can’t see the actuality.
Understand I’m an officer….but I’m  a black man too.  Behind the badge.. I hurt like you.  They said I’m supposed to be a tough guy......But I got to let these tears flow.

Copyright © Tyrone Ruff | Year Posted 2017