To Be a Man (If only I could)

The Stone of Scone seems not insurmountable when initiation beckons.

Yet my endeavour to mount it terminated abruptly,

my lack of traction punctuated by the pride that preceded

the plummet, to the accompaniment of a soft cadence

of sardonic querying of my manhood.

 

Howls of desultory derision announced my arrival.

It used to be easy, being a man; no mantic ability required,

yet the unwritten, unspoken and unbending rules,

replaced recently by emotional intelligence,

                continue to pervert collective masculine history.

 

Man was born, worked, fought and died; it wasn’t hard.

Hitherto the labyrinth of feelings and emotion lay claim to my goal;

                my heart’s lips pine for that time long ago

                before the labret of Pan’s lance pierced the remnant

                of the dying breed of that bygone age.

 

How I beseech the universe, let me be a man again - if only I could!

Unspoken, unseen, unknown, yet so familiar, the past

                mocks me as I pass, with the admonition:

                to thine own self betray, not so much as this:

                no tears, no fears, not even a life at all.

 

Reviews

[Liza]

Brilliant use of the english language; it is a learning experience to read you. I often wondered who has it easier..men or women? I concluded neither. Though women or the feminine quality is to show all contrasts of emotion; society believes it is because we have a menstrual cycle that rules our seemingly chaotic behavior. I can cry and laugh simutaneously and the behavior is more acceptable. meanwhile men are trained to be soldiers; keep a poker face, to fight and protect the weaknesses of women and children. All the aggression and tension created from not having a healthy outlet of creative emotional expression is spilled onto war, sexual release and physical sports and competition or the seeds sowed into women reproducing in the act of love or realease of aggression.

[donny ingraham]

Strong and yet sensitive

[Becky C Strukamp]

Masterfully penned. Your use of the english language is outstanding. Your poems sing of it. It is a pleasure to read your work. Thanks for writing and sharing the m.

[Linear]

Let me be clear, I'm no literay giant, no educated man, my spelling errors shall or indeed do confirm that.

This poem was à grand litany of words well used, à feast for those hungry for prose.

And I did enjoy reading, even if to me your meaning was some what ambigous

[miSS LEaf]

magnificent cognition upon the evolution of human existence. cleverly executed. timeless~

[Sweets]

This is beautiful! You have such a great vocabulary bank ! :)
The last stanza is the best! :)
especially the last three lines!
Wonderful work!
Keep going :)

[Ashli The Amazing]

very nice [: great choice of words too. very well written

[ScaryTrees]

let me be the man i envisioned myself becoming
when i was young

this is very thoughtful and well written
very nice

[Daytonight]

Very well penned. Wonderful descriptions. Love your alliteration. Keep on penning.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Excellent use of the words! Your description of how hard it is to be a man was of brillance!

[masqued_muse]

Social mindsets have forever changed the definition of manhood. While I do not agree with excuses made for maniacal behavior.. I certainly see the struggle for identification and self esteem in the eyes of my sons. Just know; on a more personal note, this act of stripping and laying bare the core of our essence, is felt on BOTH ends of the spectrum. I love to read eloquence blended with passion. You have indulged me.