for drew
he sits alone before class starts
his eyes looking so bleak
but as a man he can’t show his sadness
or else he’ll be labeled as weak.
he does classwork quick
but never the best he can
because he can’t seem too smart
for he is a man.
at home his father raises a hand
tells him to man up and take it
and if he turns to walk away
the harder the hit.
since elementary he’s been told
the rules on how to be a man
but no matter what he does
he is always less than.
he doesn’t understand why
men are labeled by society
supposed to be strong and brave
and without anxiety.
he’s sick of being dehumanized
to a man of steel
because out of all the expectations for superman
none of them are real.
real men hurt and cry
real men feel fear and can be smart
and he believes he is a man
all because of his heart.
dai 