—
.
Men aren’t taught they could be loved for who they are
Men aren’t taught they could be loved at all
Men aren’t taught they should be loved
Or how
Men are taught they will be wanted though
Wanted for what they have
Wanted for what they do
But that’s not all
Men are taught they’ll be wanted for what they have and what they do as it compares to what other men have and what other men do
So men will strive
And attain
And “get there”
And realize getting there gets old
Especially when all people care about is how old you are when you get there
And realize their highest peak is but another man’s piece
And then what do you really have
And then what do you really do
–
This manhood thing is a moving car
Going a hundred miles per hour
Constantly snapping your head back
With the expectation of keeping speed while simultaneously keeping track of everything you see
No one tells you fast has nothing to do with where you’re looking
And so you could end up being the fastest
Still looking behind you
Or beside you
Or outside you
But never at you
Or in you
–
And a man isn’t taught to be so analytical
Or so philosophical
And if he is, he’s taught there’s a monastery for that
Or a disorder for that
But never an existence for that
Or a life for that
Just a burden for that
A man is taught he has to throw a rock
Or be a rock
But never need a rock
Never need a rocking to bed
Just a rocking in a bed
A man is taught soft and strong is a civil war in his body
Is taught they can’t coexist
Is taught what he is today is what he has to be forever
Is taught his deep drowns
Is taught he could want a son
God
Need a son
Need God
But not want a brother
Or need a brother
Is taught sensitive is for a funeral
Not for his environment
Even if part of his environment makes him feel like he’s dying
Is taught what he sees
And how he sees
Is less important than what he seize
And how he seize
How he will be defined by the release of his art
And not the art of his release
His surrender
His ability to let go
And unlearn.
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