The tears that men cry

Men don’t cry very often.

Not for lack of tears, nor for

lack of opportunity;

the tougher the target, the

greater the incentive to do it damage.

 

Real men cry, even if they don’t know why;

they just don’t do it very often.

 

Men cry, not out of emotion, but because

they are breaking, betraying their strength,

violating their will to conceal

a hurting child, looking to the man they have

become to protect him.

 

The sound they make is fuelled by disappointment

terror, anguish and rage 

at not finding room or time

to conceal that boy’s tears for processing

at a later date.

 

The sound of a man’s cry

is the death rattle of his self-control,

and it is horrible,

unspeakable,

a sound that is physically manifest.

 

It is the sound of rupturing, as a hurt, broken boy finds

less and less room to stay hidden in. There is not room enough

for a boy and a man within one body; both battle one another

for the best hiding spot.

 

Men don’t cry; they break.

Reviews

[Meliss@k]

This poem really had me reaching for more with every stanza that I read because you made the subject of a man crying seem so curious and dramatic.

Great job.

[Jeremy Baker]

Thanks Melissa for your review and kind words. Much appreciated!

[Meliss@k]

You're so very welcome.

[Mia]

Sheesh! You really have a talent for poetry!

[allie_arrowz]

beautiful. insightful, too. i like the "death rattle"

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Exhalation in a rush here. Thank you for this ... glimpse into that piece never seen. Truly amazing assembly of letters here. Steals the air in the room... Absolutely.

[Patrick]

It's a helpful angle on the subject - not one that everyone is comfortable. I would say easier to write about the talk about. Those finishing lines, 'not enough room for a boy and a man within one body' is a poem on it's own. Really helpful read this.

[Spookers]

This is good. Though I like to believe that guys can cry because of overwhelming emotions, but I guess guys sometimes feel that this is how it is supposed to be. Oh well.

[kmartell]

boy is this good. the revealing of what is behind, and what the words tell has alot of thought and genius behind it. The style and voice are equally well done.

[wordaddict]

I'm torn here,ever since getting hurt,I find that I cry over just about anything
Before I was caught up in trying to be strong but now it's like I can't help it
Hopefully soon I'll lose this tender hearted stuff,it's even changing my writing

[Etoiles]

This is beautiful.
So honest and tender.
You addressed this theme perfectly.

[miSS LEaf]

sigh..... that was beyond deep, that was incruciating. and i felt it