I heard quite often “men don’t cry”
Though no one ever told me why
So when I fell and skinned a knee
No one came to comfort me.
As I grew to reasoned years
I learned to stifle any tears
Through “Be a big boy” it began
Quite soon I learned to “be a man”.
Then one long night I stood nearby
And helplessly watched my son die
And quickly found to my surprise
That all the tearless talk was lies
And still I cry and have no shame
I cannot play that “big boy” game
And openly, without remorse
I let my sorrow take its course.
So those of you who can’t abide
A man you’ve seen whose often cried
Reach out to him with all your heart
As one whose life’s been torn apart.
For men do cry when they can see
Their loss of immortality
And tears will come in endless streams
When mindless fate destroys their dreams
Ken Falk
