deepundergroundpoetry.com
Society's Rules to become a Man
Rule 1: Only punks cry! Rule 2: Stop crying! Rule 3: You better fix your face before I fix it for you. Rule 4: Be a man. These phrases, are spoken all too often. Why do we make our youth repeat the things that left scars on us today? In this society, it has become common practice to raise kids without emotions. Those that have them are weak and those without are seen as superior. This is how it has been for generations. Generations of separating emotions from conscious mind (fast), you shouldn’t cry when your sad; you should keep a blank face because only punks cry! Did you catch that? That’s rule 1. The words “feelings” and “humans” are antonyms (fast), they no longer belong in the same sentence. To do so is the equivalent of ostracizing yourself from the pack. If you don’t belong to the pack, then society says that you don’t belong anywhere. How dare you be different from us? How dare you feel more than us? How dare you challenge the society that has been in place for so many years?! How dare you…make us realize?
Rule 2: Stop crying. What they are really saying is stop crying., to me, if I can’t do it then why should you? Why should you be able to feel, without feeling weird? What this phrase is saying is that you are going against everything my mind was limited to believe, so stop crying, stop crying, stop crying, before I ..bully you, into what I raised to believe a man should be.
Why do men tell other men to get off their period when they start crying? From the time we are born, we are taught that crying, no that having feelings are feminine traits, that are only for girls. Society says that if a man cries, then you are nothing more than a female.
However, I have a pretty great mother, and If I could be just half the person she is then that would be a blessing., so don’t lead me to believe that crying is a flaw when I have seen people stronger than I am do it. You see, this behavior is taught not ingrained, do not blame this on the Y chromosome. Children should be allowed to develop into the person they want to be, not who society has already proclaimed they need to be.
Pause: It is okay to raise children to be strong. Just remember strength is not proportional with the amount of tears being held in. The society should realize that tears are not a sign of weakness; they are a sign that you are beginning to heal.
Rule 3. You better fix your face before I fix it for you. What does this really mean? It means that I will counterintuitively inflict physical harm until you stop crying. I will hit you until you until you conform to the stereotype of being a man. I will beat your humanity out of you until you are no more than an advance robot. This society has too many expectations. It expects us to become perfect without realizing that “fixing” our faces was the problem in the first place. Why does this society tell girls to let it out and boys to suck it up, like our capacity to carry pain is predetermined by our sex. I will not let society “fix this face.” This face is not clay; you cannot mold me into what you want me to be. In fact, no being born on this earth can correct me because last time I checked I was made in the vision of a god, not man. So don’t tell me to fix my face, you fix yours because it seems that you have forgotten where you came from.
Rule 4: Be a man.
No offense society, but I think I’ll create my own version of being a man because clearly you will never get it right.
From a very young age we are taught to fight it out instead of using our words. Why are we taught that using our fist is the only way to effectively communicate with each other. Why must we abandoned our feelings to be a man? Why must we hold in our tears? Why must we keep applying rules to an already broken system
Newsflash, I am not a stereotype! Newsflash, Not all men are the same., News flash I have feelings too, and if that makes me any less of a man then, society, screw you.
I’m tired….of fitting societies description of a man. It’s been so long since I questioned these ways, but now I ask.., society, when did becoming a man meant I had to stop...being…human?
Rule 2: Stop crying. What they are really saying is stop crying., to me, if I can’t do it then why should you? Why should you be able to feel, without feeling weird? What this phrase is saying is that you are going against everything my mind was limited to believe, so stop crying, stop crying, stop crying, before I ..bully you, into what I raised to believe a man should be.
Why do men tell other men to get off their period when they start crying? From the time we are born, we are taught that crying, no that having feelings are feminine traits, that are only for girls. Society says that if a man cries, then you are nothing more than a female.
However, I have a pretty great mother, and If I could be just half the person she is then that would be a blessing., so don’t lead me to believe that crying is a flaw when I have seen people stronger than I am do it. You see, this behavior is taught not ingrained, do not blame this on the Y chromosome. Children should be allowed to develop into the person they want to be, not who society has already proclaimed they need to be.
Pause: It is okay to raise children to be strong. Just remember strength is not proportional with the amount of tears being held in. The society should realize that tears are not a sign of weakness; they are a sign that you are beginning to heal.
Rule 3. You better fix your face before I fix it for you. What does this really mean? It means that I will counterintuitively inflict physical harm until you stop crying. I will hit you until you until you conform to the stereotype of being a man. I will beat your humanity out of you until you are no more than an advance robot. This society has too many expectations. It expects us to become perfect without realizing that “fixing” our faces was the problem in the first place. Why does this society tell girls to let it out and boys to suck it up, like our capacity to carry pain is predetermined by our sex. I will not let society “fix this face.” This face is not clay; you cannot mold me into what you want me to be. In fact, no being born on this earth can correct me because last time I checked I was made in the vision of a god, not man. So don’t tell me to fix my face, you fix yours because it seems that you have forgotten where you came from.
Rule 4: Be a man.
No offense society, but I think I’ll create my own version of being a man because clearly you will never get it right.
From a very young age we are taught to fight it out instead of using our words. Why are we taught that using our fist is the only way to effectively communicate with each other. Why must we abandoned our feelings to be a man? Why must we hold in our tears? Why must we keep applying rules to an already broken system
Newsflash, I am not a stereotype! Newsflash, Not all men are the same., News flash I have feelings too, and if that makes me any less of a man then, society, screw you.
I’m tired….of fitting societies description of a man. It’s been so long since I questioned these ways, but now I ask.., society, when did becoming a man meant I had to stop...being…human?
Published 3rd Jan 2016
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7th Jan 2016 7:33am
Hey love the poem bro, It looks like you did this at night in your home so I definitely understand the vibe that you were forced to do this in so if you don't mind I just have one thing that I would like to critique on your performance. I hope I'm not telling you anything you already know, but I would've liked to see some fire in your eyes and that voice that utters from the soul. Try closing your eyes and finding a specific memory or event or thought that makes you cringe at your core before you recite this one. Reading it gave me chills, but the recital definitely seemed like you weren't all in it. I hope you can give some feedback when i post some of my spoken word and some of my written poems!
7th Jan 2016 7:54am
Hey Windy_Days,
I know exactly what you mean! To be completely honest this was a little too rushed. I had just memorized it that day and was anxious to make a video. Usually I make sure that I know the piece like it's second-nature, but this time, not so much. Once I have this memorized to that point then I'll be able to fully express myself without having to think about what my next line is. This is definitely great advice, and the next time I write a piece, I will remember this. I would be glad to review some of your poems once you post them. Again, thank you for the feedback!
I know exactly what you mean! To be completely honest this was a little too rushed. I had just memorized it that day and was anxious to make a video. Usually I make sure that I know the piece like it's second-nature, but this time, not so much. Once I have this memorized to that point then I'll be able to fully express myself without having to think about what my next line is. This is definitely great advice, and the next time I write a piece, I will remember this. I would be glad to review some of your poems once you post them. Again, thank you for the feedback!
7th Jan 2016 7:58am
Welcome to DUP,
This is an amazing interpretation of what becoming a man is like in the eyes of society.
Each line spoke a true and strong message.
I loved this poem a lot keep up the good work. :)
This is an amazing interpretation of what becoming a man is like in the eyes of society.
Each line spoke a true and strong message.
I loved this poem a lot keep up the good work. :)
7th Jan 2016 2:21pm
when did becoming a man meant I had to stop...being…human?
I liked the way you ended it there. I felt that the performance was adequate as well. You don't need to be 'on fire' the entire piece, but you were when it counted.
I have a slightly different take on the content being that I feel it is OK to keep your feelings inside, but not necessarily weakness to let them show. There is wisdom in both trains of thought. To that end, I encourage my children to do what comes naturally for them and try to prepare them to be able to deal with the way that society react to that. Sometimes, it's OK to be hated or looked down upon and you just have to keep on going. As my boy Konplicted once said, "Fuck the mainstream!"
I liked the way you ended it there. I felt that the performance was adequate as well. You don't need to be 'on fire' the entire piece, but you were when it counted.
I have a slightly different take on the content being that I feel it is OK to keep your feelings inside, but not necessarily weakness to let them show. There is wisdom in both trains of thought. To that end, I encourage my children to do what comes naturally for them and try to prepare them to be able to deal with the way that society react to that. Sometimes, it's OK to be hated or looked down upon and you just have to keep on going. As my boy Konplicted once said, "Fuck the mainstream!"
Anonymous
8th Jan 2016 11:25pm
Since I'm one for always probing into a man's mind, this has REALLY opened up my eyes. . .Thank you for sharing;). . .~Devlin.
25th Feb 2016 8:12am
22nd Jul 2016 7:58pm
You remind me of Prince Era.. and skin color has absolutely nothing to do with it. Keep it up my man! https://www.facebook.com/PrinceEa/
7th Aug 2016 1:48am
This is a superb compliment! I actually watch his videos and enjoy them very much. Thanks!
Anonymous
3rd Oct 2016 7:37am
As a woman who was taught not to cry when I was young, even though we girls are supposed to be able to do that, I related to this on a gut level. This was very powerful. I'm glad you're not fixing your face. Takes a lot to be okay with that when you're taught you should. Well done, and keep being human.
