Masculinity isn’t

For all sons seeking to be men:

Men are tough, men are strong,

We can work hard all day long.

Men are also gentle, men are kind—

Emissaries for peace of mind.

If someone tells you a real man never cries,

Turn and run, my son, this mouth spews lies.

To deny the soft in favor of the hard,

Is a trip in imbalance, ending bloody and scarred.

Confidence isn’t about being in the right,

It’s having humility to ask for help from the light.

The stiff and the hard are disciples of death,

While the soft and the yielding bring life with each breath. 

So when you grow up, 

I hope it’s true strength you’ll find—

Masculinity isn’t power over others, 

It's love for all humankind.