Man Up

Spoken word poem inspired by #metoo campaign, October 2017

Man up!

Why should I be a man,
when all I’ve seen are men
who turn out to be evil?
Who prey on the weak,
and then lie and weasel out,
Why? Do you expect me to man up,
When masculinity is so fucked up?

And the the fear generated
causes pressure to build up
but I can’t let it out!
Or I’l be seen as weak
in a world that’s so unforgiving
to a man that is meek.

But I know it’s all wrong,
I think I really should speak
About this tornado inside
Before I’m forty and decide, to beat
my feelings against my wife’s face.

Why should I seek sexual gratification
when I’m lonely and just need love,
and spread misogynistic ideation
like some big shot just because
I’m scared, and never learned
how to say it.