For The Boy Child | Stefn Sylvester Anyatonwu

 

POEM 288: FOR THE BOY CHILD

Cry out while everyone doubts
because society would mock and say;
'Impossible. You enjoyed it, man'

So a boy fake it until he breaks down
because 'you're a man; you don't cry'.

So a boy cannot dream of award shows
while still on the couch?

So a boy cannot freeze on a spot
and let the tears drop?

So a boy cannot hurt
by the overtures of a-whoring aunts?

...and a boy hides behind
a mask of masculinity

Coming out clean feels like nobody cares
feels like a boy's doomed to sift the sore tears

So he bottles up the sad tales
and carry the world on his biceps

Flaunting six-packs of emotional traumas
flirting like 'tis life goals

Stumble into the next bar to sedate the pain
drink and get drunk all the way to life's end

Boys are human, not stones
don't throw them into black holes
and tell 'em not to sink

But, we could stop telling our boys such lies
so they do not build shooting stars on landmines
and explode into a thousand sparks of debris
in failed attempts to implode a sad history.

#365DaysOfPoetry
#November11 #BoyChildDay
#Pengician #SSA

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