WHEN A MAN CRIES

SHORT STORY

                                           WHEN A MAN CRIES

                         “ The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you,

                            Don’t go back to sleep”-Rumi

         

               My favorite part of the day is Nautical dawn.

              Today,my tranquil ritual was broken by nerve racking sobs.

              I gave an exasperated sigh, what in the world?

              Who could be about at this hour?

              ...but the sobs escalated to unparalleled heights.

             My heart made a violent lurch...did somebody die?

             At this point,I wished my feet could move faster.

             I rushed downstairs towards the source of theses ceaseless sobs of anguish.

             There before my eyes in fetal form was a grown man in anguish

             I hurt for him, he barely noticed me.

              I was worried,scared,

             I battled with my thoughts for the need to call somebody

             But the fierce maternal instincts of a mother kicked in .

             ...with quiet determination, I squatted beside him and tapped his shoulder.

             He lifted his blood shot teary eyes to mine and crumbled into my outstretched 

             arms like a baby.

             My heart broke, and I shed silent tears in solidarity with this wounded soul.

             I don’t know the story,I had no words, but my heart has been down this road

             before.

             ...when a man cries- it doesn’t reduce him.

.

Reviews

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Moving words that kept me on track to the end after the pleasure of reading a Rumi quote. Was this poem true to life? What was this man crying about? Did I miss it? I read that part twice. If it isn't true it is as good as true to the reader. Wonderful write. tyfs

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

I have seen a man cry,
It triggered a primal need to protect him.
The rest is fiction.
Thank you Cyprian.