Being a Man

You still are the Man in my book !

You are a great writer,  just keep putting your truth out there, people will read and rejoice.
I need your voice here.
Feed me Man

Thank you for caring and your kind remarks - manhood has become a conundrum, but in general I am still relatively happy in my skin

:-)

I guess there are many definitions -
I can't say I meet many of them,
especially not the more macho, red neck
ones, I'm pleased to say...

but from what I read here,
you're a good man, David,
and a real one...

Thank you Paul and I agree, there are many so-called manly attributes that I am glad not to meet.

nice to know that men who care are still out there

:-)

this is pretty awesome. makes me want to debate the matter further; or rather to just accept that we can't always strictly define such things, same as with other genders entirely. i really like this, though i can't relate enough coz i'm genetically not a man :)

I am so glad you really like this. I am with you in that when I wrote it is caused me more questions than answers and I am sure I will explore the subject more in future writing. I would be fascinated to get a woman's perspective on what makes a man
 
:-)

A man is somebody who stands up for what is right, a man is somebody who cares about his family, a man is somebody who refuses to be a jerk even when it feels the world is against him, a man is somebody who keeps waking up everyday and faces the world and works to be a better part of it than he was yesterday, a man is somebody who cares, and acts, and loves, and cries, and keeps breathing through the pain. You are a man, no doubt about it. You are more of a man than many "men" I know. So remember that David. YOU are a real man. Just keep it up. ;)

thank you Sammy for caring and showing it - two male attributes not often celebrated.

inadvertently from your comments comes a wonderful poem:

A man is somebody who stands up for what is right,
A man is somebody who cares about his family,
A man is somebody who refuses to be a jerk
Even when it feels the world is against him,
A man is somebody who keeps waking up
Everyday and faces the world and works
To be a better part of it than he was yesterday,
A man is somebody who cares, and acts, and loves,
And cries, and keeps breathing through the pain.

YOU WROTE THIS :-)

"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it
on you,
If you can trust yourself when all
men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired
by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in
lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor
talk too wise
If you can dream - and not make
dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph
and Disaster
And treat those two impostors
just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap
for fools,
Or watch the things you gave
your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools
If you can make one heap of all
your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-
and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about
your loss;
If you can force your heart and
nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is
nothing in you
Except the will which says to
them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the
common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends
can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving
minute
With sixty seconds' worth of
distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a
Man, my son!"
[from if: a father's advice to his son by kipling]

sending hugs because i don't have words xo

thank you so much - sometimes virtual hugs mean so much more than words - this is one of those times.

:-)

One of my heroes was a truly Superman. He was an actor in movies, but that's not what made him a super man. He rode horses, but that wasn't what made him a super man. It wasn't until the last years of his life, when he replaced his cape with wheels, when the only things he was able to do for himself was think and speak, that he learned how to fly with a spirit that never gave up and words that shook the walls of Congress. What makes a man is in his heart and in his mind. You are here using your mind to form the words in your heart. Let your words fly and be the man you are in your heart!  
 
JJ

your words brought a lump in my throat and tears to my eyes - your beautiful words were inspirational. It is people like you and the other commentors above that will keep me going until I reach the other side of this - I will always be thankful that such people exist

:-)

I've said this before, but it is worth repeating, "we are all Superman, but too many of us embrace the pretty green stones that keep us down".
 JJ

And that inspired yet another poem... "We Am Superman"...
JJ

Jesus Christ what a thought provoking poem and thread. I think everyone on this thread, commenting, is a REAL PERSON!

I would prefer a man who can conversate make me laugh and eroticism comes in many shades! your poem is thought provoking!!!

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment :-)

I would dare to assume that if it's thought provoking then the poem has done its job :-)

Fighting for someone,
providing for someone
working to bring home the bacon
romancing
hunting (depending on what you’re hunting for)
foreplay
or any play
doesn’t necessarily require certain body parts.

Conquering obstacles with creativity
Now THAT takes a man
And I’m sure you’ve got creativity by the crate!

A man is not defined by what he can or cannot do, but what he does and who he is. And, from what I can tell, you're pretty awesome.

How many men can claim to overcome such an obstacle of adversity as amputation? That's something you'll have over a good majority of men. So...points in your favor!

You left out drink like a fish and curse like a sailor lol ...

I really like this because in my job I find myself at times mentoring tweens as they try to define this thing we call manhood ... All to often their perceptions are defined by the latest rap video or antics of their favorite athlete, or what their single mothers tell them about their fathers, which usually starts and ends with, "Your father ain't shit."

Maybe we should all just worry about being better people.

Thanks for sharing this.

you are so right - being better people is what it should be all about and that is so much easier to achieve without current and past definitions and preconceived stereotypes: -)

thank you for reading and understanding :-)

Super aggressive in a defensive stance. Very fluid and direct. The temperature climbs and cools as we move through the words. Unfortunate circumstances will typically provide the clearest thoughts and motivation to express... Keep Grindin CAOS737