“Be A Man”

Hard lessons learned after trying to express what I feel. This is the journey of me learning to "grow up".

I think of the times

When I was being myself

When I could freely cry like a baby

And when I could joyfully dance like an elf

 

Suddenly these days were no more

When I was told to “be a man”

“Being sensitive is a sin”

“Emotions are urges from Satan”

 

But why should I say “yes” when it’s a “no”?

Why should I smile when I’m sad?

Why should I say “I’m fine” when I’m not?

Why should I stay calm when I’m mad?

 

Yet protesting doesn’t help

When the norms are strong

Either I act “maturely”

Or I’m doing things wrong

 

To pretend being “normal”

I started concealing

To preserve my sanity

I stopped feeling

 

My reactions are merely

Results of computations

My emotions are no more than

Outcomes of calculations

 

Who am I?

I have no idea

Do I even exist?

I shiver at the answer

 

“Are you all good?”

“Yea”, said my empty hood

Reviews

[Dysphoria]

I hate it how society thinks men shouldn't show their emotions. No one should be told to coop their emotions up and "be strong." You have to let out emotions. I think it's wrong to tell an upset boy to "man up". Because why? If something has upset you, you have a right to be upset. And it's not only the boys who are told to "be a man" that suffer. What about their wives and children who now have unemotional husbands and fathers? I hope society will someday realise this and stop telling boys to keep their feelings to themselves. It's dangerous.

Sorry for the rant. I get angry about this sort of thing. This is written with feeling and it really got to me.

[David R Gonzalez]

this poem exemplifies a struggle between being true to oneself and the comforts of conforming to what society feels that you should be.

[Dust That Drifts Throug..]

Damn. I may not know what it's like being male, but I do know what you are told to do and what you are not supposed to be. I feel bad for you and any male being told to "man up" and to not cry.

[The Exiled Wolf]

Thanks for the soothing words...

[Stan Lee]

This is a great poem. I enjoyed the clear story line and message you were portraying in perfect rhymes. I'd normally say which parts are my favorite but honestly I enjoyed the whole poem. Thank you for sharing. Stay inspired :)

[The Exiled Wolf]

I'm glad that you like this piece. Sometimes it's so hard to comprehend why people become so complicated when they grow up. I feel that there are too many calculations required to survive every day of my life and it's very tiring...

[Stan Lee]

You're right, it is tiring. It's nice to have a place where you're able to relax and just be yourself for a bit :)

[Sapientiam]

Ah, "be a man"... I don't think emotional expression is feminine. You know you are strong when you do cry because keeping everything inside is, to me, a sign of weakness. One is unwilling to be truthful to the self, leading to the denial of despair. I think it's important to be true to yourself so that you can finally discover the person under the hood.

[The Exiled Wolf]

I hope so... it's so hard faking all the emotions on the surface... I'm afraid that I would loose everything on the way trying to be strong... anyways thanks a lot!

[Sapientiam]

You will lose more if you put on a facade.

[The Exiled Wolf]

If I don't, I will collapse on my own... I tried to tell someone about myself, and her reaction almost killed me literally...

[Sapientiam]

I'm sorry to hear that... Trust me, I understand. Truly. That is why I'm very impersonal. But, doing that will not help. It's not easy to disclose stuff about yourself, and no one is asking you to. Trust the people who cherish and they will accept. At least, hopefully...

[The Exiled Wolf]

Yea, hopefully... :|

[The Realist]

whoa haven't had a masterpiece pull me in that deeply and trigger things I've locked up for a very long time. is it selfish if this poetry reflected myself? as in i only saw me in every word, every letter, the whole lot? this is great writing you have here. continue to express yourself through these written artworks. great job exiled wolf, yours truly The Realist.

[The Exiled Wolf]

No it is always not selfish to see your reflection in the poems. It is so hard to find people who understand and accept me as who I am...The poem gives you an idea of what I am like (partially), and I'm glad that I can find a like of me:)

[The Realist]

right this poem only gives a partial insight of your self. someone who tries to transition into what society deems 'normal' and a 'man' but fails because he has the ability to see through this abnormality and be himself.... standing up for what you think is right and going against the world, now that makes you a man. dont let anyone tell you otherwise.
you what they say.. great minds think alike. :)

[Lord of mad men]

This is extremely deep and pulls my feeling. Because I can relate to this peice. But I have been broken be on repair so being a mans not what you do or how you act. It is who you are if you stay true to your self and respect those who earn it then your a man. This is very great writing you have written here. Keep up the great work! Thank you for sharing. Yours truely a mad lord

[The Exiled Wolf]

Thank you, a mad lord! I guess you're right on the point about being a man. That's why I guess I'm still a boy instead... because I'm afraid of getting hurt once again after revealing my true self. Anyways I'll keep that in mind, and hopefully one day I'll truly grow up.

[TheAimlessWanderer]

this is me at very core you couldn't have spoke deeper than this nothing else needs to be said
Breathtaking write man

[The Exiled Wolf]

Thanks a lot, The Aimless Wanderer! I'm glad you like it, and more importantly, feel what I'm thinking! :) Writing is one of the very few moments that I feel alive!

[TheAimlessWanderer]

same here it feels as if i have a soul again even if it is for a brief moment it is a moment i revel in every second you are most welcome my friend (: