Not on the Saturday battlefield
All testosterone and bluster
Camaraderie enforcing masculinity
Despite protruding bone
Not at that drunken gathering
Where your love leaves with another
You just sink more beer and smile
Despite a shattered heart
Not at the cemetery lawn
As a loved one is lowered
Instead, bighting your lip for distraction
Despite the crushing loss
Not in the delivery room
Where the being you co-created
Takes their own first breath
Despite your flood of love
Not when simple questions
Test your failing memory
And you hide the symptoms in humour
Despite your growing unease
Not even in times of utter solitude
Despite guaranteed privacy
Because you were taught that men don’t cry
Instead, they slowly drown in tears withheld
Image by ememess