The tears that men cry

The tears that men cry

A Poem by Jeremy Baker

Men don’t cry very often.

Not for lack of tears, nor for

lack of opportunity;

the tougher the target, the

greater the incentive to do it damage.

 

Real men cry, even if they don’t know why;

they just don’t do it very often.

 

Men cry, not out of emotion, but because

they are breaking, betraying their strength,

violating their will to conceal

a hurting child, looking to the man they have

become to protect him.

 

The sound they make is fuelled by disappointment

terror, anguish and rage 

at not finding room or time

to conceal that boy’s tears for processing

at a later date.

 

The sound of a man’s cry

is the death rattle of his self-control,

and it is horrible,

unspeakable,

a sound that is physically manifest.

 

It is the sound of rupturing, as a hurt, broken boy finds

less and less room to stay hidden in. There is not room enough

for a boy and a man within one body; both battle one another

for the best hiding spot.

 

Men don’t cry; they break.

© 2011 Jeremy Baker


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Reviews

true valid thoughts, a man who knows all to well, the anguish...well written.

Posted 12 Years Ago


"The sound of a man’s cry
is the death rattle of his self-control" I love this image!

"Men don’t cry; they break." And this is too sadly true!

Posted 12 Years Ago


This is the sad truth, and our society will roll its eyes at you because crying does not accomplish the goal. It only sets it back. I love this poem because of how accurate it is.

Posted 12 Years Ago


This is amazing..and powerful.. "Men don't cry, they break". so true..xo

Posted 12 Years Ago


This is really powerfull. A man crying is scary!

Posted 12 Years Ago


Your logic in this poem is true, yet some men cries out of emotion, not just because they're losing their self control.

"There is not room enough
for a boy and a man within one body; both battle one another
for the best hiding spot."

I reallt like those lines.
Thank you so much for the poem!
I enjoyed reading it!!

~A Fallen Heroine~

Posted 12 Years Ago


Last line is true. "Men don’t cry; they break." We are raised to show little emotion and be strong. Your logic is true in this poem.
"There is not room enough
for a boy and a man within one body; both battle one another
for the best hiding spot."
Thank you for the outstanding poem.
Coyote

Posted 12 Years Ago


Love this, you in fact have written this so brilliantly, my friend! I for one hate to see a man cry because you don't see it that often. he tries to be strong and be the man and when their emotions do finally break loose it's heart wrenching sobs! Very well written!!

Posted 12 Years Ago


i think you are right! i am a girl and im not taaging guys or something like that...but constantly im with my best friend, who is a guy...and when he cries (which does happen!), when he cries...i wish im anywhere but not with him...not to be rude but because each tear is like the breaking of his heart...i just cant see him cry!

to come to your poem...its magnificent..as usual and also heart-wrenching...i could actually picture my friend crying while reading this!
thanks!^^

Posted 12 Years Ago



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Shelved in 3 Libraries
Added on October 30, 2011
Last Updated on October 30, 2011

Author

Jeremy Baker
Jeremy Baker

Busselton, South West, Australia



About
I'm a former English & Literature teacher who has always enjoyed the magic, power and simple romance of words well written. My favourite writers include Pablo Neruda, Liam O'Flaherty, Anthony Eaton.. more..

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