The Myth of Manhood
We offset masculinity
With bravado and obscenity
Afraid to embrace sensitivity,
We disconnect from our poetry.
We boil in soups of complexity
And stew in our futile brutality
Too fearful to reveal our humanity,
We ignore our peace mentality.
We inflict our core fragilities
Upon weaker ones, for clarity
That we are MEN... a phallically-
Challenged curiosity, with no idea of
How to be.
We shield our insecurities
With braggadocio and hyperbole
Ignore our wounds and maladies
Projecting our faux-vitality.
We erect and flex our sexuality, yet
Disguise our chronic uncertainties
We exaggerate our salaries
As we over-inflate our reality
Refusing to acknowledge our fallacies
We stoop to acts of inhumanity
We masturbate our M-16s
And falsify our legacies...
We’re victims to this harsh disease
Contorting our souls into machines
Terrified that shows of empathy
Might destroy our guise of
Masculinity. Yes, we are
MEN. We stew, we boil in
Soups of complexity, with no idea of
How to simply
be.
One.
copyright © 2010 by L.M. Ross
13 comments:
@Lin
Every 8th grade boy should have to read this and know this before they go on to 9th grade!
Great words, Lin.
Great prose, so truthful. I love it!
Well dang! This piece is painfully honest...if pain can ever be a good thing. What a delightful world it would be if all men would feel comfortable enough to speak this kind of truth. I agree with Val, a must read from 9 - 99!
This piece is beautiful and true and sad.
Masculinity--what is it really? Can men truly express it?
Bruh! These stanzas are immersed in truth, beautiful truth!
Salute
Hello Good Brother...It has been awhile since I've been over here...but I'm always glad when I do visit...You always give me such inspiration...Love the new look
(Well new for me-lol) look of the blog. Loved the prose and the message in this too!
love it!
Very eloquently written. Loved it!
Well spoken in fact spoken with a silver tongue.
wow. this is bone-deep powerful. raw and fearless - but it sings. amazing.
"We disconnect from our poetry." -
that's truth, and that's a tragedy.
Can I repost this on my blog?
@ Gayte-keeper:
If you want to use this entry, cool-- it's not a problem, my Brotha.
One.
Lin
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