At eighteen, the eve of maturity, a letter arrived from society
In it contains a three-word decree "be the man"
A command that dumped poor him into a confused mud
Questions summoned in the corridors of his mind
The rod clapping with his two legs wasn't enough being "the man"?
A flat chest, bears, and a voice like a drum weren't enough being "the man"?
Is being Ibrahim was not just enough being "the man"?
On the whole, was the bones clothed in this meat, and appearance not enough being "the man"?
At twenties, these questions started birthing it answers
The reality flooded the confused, and lost him
When he realized where every real lies
Started paying for items he never ordered with his blood and sweat
The youthful joy drowned like the sea drowned the Israelites
Replaced by a burden weighed so heavy
The trap buried deep in society's man lay naked
Like a scientist, he discovered society's man is the one whose heart is crafted in stone
A man who does not live a life for he dare not speak
He dare not cries out even when he is cut too deep
The one who endures life's ferity, and still wear a smile
His ears is to ear the tales of others, and not be heard of his
To be "the man" is to find peace in a war to survive
His happiness lies in the mercy of a woman
Who trammel his choices, and make him a mere loon
And his pleasure is put in a pot of honey called intimacy
He must wear a smile like a groom even when he is in the doom
His respect bank on the gravity of his pocket, and the loads he shoulder
He is as a candle, he burns while he burns
Hey society! A man is also a human, treat him a human
He too needs pamper, tender, and care
His tears should also roll like the waters in a gutter when hurt without ridicule
Yes! He is a man but he also feels, his heart also bleeds
He need not swallow a lump of silence to show his strength
For he is even stronger when he wears his emotions, and vent
And the water from his eyes can extinguish the hell in him
But when society will learn, and accept he too needs a life?
He too needs the needs of every needy needs
He needs a smile back, when he smiles, he too needs a shade
He too craves a sip from the mug of care, and tenderness
Oh society, go easy on him, he is a home of a fragile heart too
He is just not given a choice to inhale from the oxygen of pleasure
Instead, a victim of societal trauma, and pressure
He needs a feed of life, as he is been forced to live dead
He is not a fortress of silence, but a spirit to stand, and live
Let him live, savor the fruits of life, and fight for what he believes
When next you meet a man, see him a human not the society's man
He is another soul yearning for connection, and emotional upliftment
Share him a bright smile, wrap him a tight hug, and blow him a soft kiss
Give him a gentle tap, and show him a million reasons to be, wear him a crown
Embrace his flaws, he too is a poor soul battling life's battle
Crafting his away from the poverty shackle
And he walks the same earth erecting his own castle
He's a man, but not society's man.
©
I