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Sons

Are we not the sons

Of the destructive

Self defeating other ones

The ones who know

Who feel

Who think

Say a lot but never speak

Are we not the silent majority

Who do

But whose feelings are left behind

Locked

Imprisoned in a room of bars

But nothing to drink

 

After all we are taught to wave the fist

To take the initiative

To run the race

Take the risk

But not to reveal all that’s inside

To scream and shout

But never to cry

 

We are the sons

Encouraged to brawl and brag

To declare an allegiance to a particular side

To wave the flag

Yet we must never show

All that we are

In case we are turned inside out

We are the sons of fathers who never

Said what they did

We are the sons of sons whose fathers

Were a different tribe and time

Where a hug was not on

It was a manly shake of the hand

Or a slap on the back

And you were expected to have all the answers

Because that’s what your father did?

 

◄ Retail parks

Wills breath ►

Comments

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Martin Elder

Tue 30th Aug 2016 14:20

Thanks LCPTB for your appreciation and taking the time to read it.
Cheers

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Martin Elder

Wed 24th Aug 2016 09:14

Thanks elp, Andy and Ray
Much appreciated. Its poems like this is where I can feel exposed writing a piece like this. Your comments mean a lot . I think we guys need to be a lot more open, but it is never easy. More power to you elp
Thanks again
Martin

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raypool

Tue 23rd Aug 2016 21:38

A very direct plea Martin for expression of the self inhibited as you imply by our forefathers. I feel it is an extra nail in the coffin where communities centred around the working man's club dispersed - places where drink eased the tongues and the jostling of acceptable emotions. The masculine role took a body blow not too long ago and now there is no hiding place. Probably a good thing in some ways.

Ray

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Andy N

Tue 23rd Aug 2016 12:58

i really like this Martin. hope to hear you read this at Stockport. i can see you defo reading this out

excellent

elPintor

Tue 23rd Aug 2016 01:32

Hi, Martin,

I like this so much. You know, I'm a single mother of a son who's spent a significant part of her life working with men. I can say that it's been a lot about meeting standards--if not physically, then otherwise.

I can remember stating the inner-conflict to my own father when my son was younger.."I am trying to be soft as a mother, yet hard as a father."

I'm so glad that now I am able to see the soft side of my father as I was never privileged (privileged through understanding) to see him before. And, that I can pass that understanding on as a mother.

Lovely work here, Martin..

elP

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