The standards of masculinity
are ridiculous.
Go exercise,
play sports,
wear thick pads and pound other men,
and slap their butts in the name of sportsmanship.
Go wear stupid colors
and kill things in the woods.
Sleep in class and say you don’t care
about your borderline grade.
I will stay.
You will go.
I will look her in the eye and write poetry.
I will listen and I will care.
I will have her heart and mind.
But she will be pick you
because you are better looking.
And will obviously make a better father and husband
as you lie in you own vomit
drunk and passed out
at seventeen.
And I will win hearts and minds
and nothing more.