My mind
Spins
On an axis of my creation,

It twists,
So very fast,
With not a single nudge!

It whirls
In its circles
For no reason at all.

Pulling,
Pulling.
Pulling!
A string tied to its base

It weaves that string tighter,
Until there is no more string to weave
And my twirl must cease.

But end! End it shall not!
The string has broken,
and my mind has won at last!

Maybe the spin,
Ever growing in speed,
Can at last go in the right direction,

Before I fall off my axis
And tumble
Down
down
d o w n
d  o  w  n

Do five syllables
Do five syllables again
This is a haiku

I close my eyes in wait.

I’m waiting.
Waiting

Waiting for the hurt to give way to understanding
Waiting for dismay to give way to hope
Waiting for light to penetrate the dark
Waiting for gloom to pave way for glee

I’m still waiting.

I’m trying.
Trying not to feel. Not to think.
Trying to numb the pain that numbs my senses.
Trying to keep going. Believing. Loving.
Trying to overcome the contradictions that challenge everything I put my trust in.

Yes, I’m trying.

And then you come along.
Stare me in the eye, assuring.
You calm me, soothe, promise of a better land.
I believe you.

I feel no need to try anymore.
There’s no more waiting.

Who said death isn’t beautiful?

I am a man.
I am a man who does not love.
Who cannot love.
For, I am a man.

I am a man.
Hence, I am not allowed to love,
To show emotion,
To feel.
For then, I’d be a *****.

I am a man.
I must be masculine.
I must be a stunner.
I must be callous.
For if not, I’d be a loser.

I am a man.
I cannot be skinny.
I cannot be fat.
I cannot care about my appearance, but I must look good.
For if not, I’d be a loner.

I am a man.
I cannot respect my wife.
For then I’d be under her thumb.
I am a man who cannot love another.
For then I’d be a criminal.

Is it that wrong
to simply love
without boundaries, without expectations?

Are we that heartless
that gender can force us to behave in a certain manner?

Are we that naive, that
we really believe phrases like
‘all men are heartless’ and
‘men are animals’?

No.
Sexism isn’t about women being oppressed by men.
Just like feminism isn’t about women being greater than men.
Discrimination, gender policing, societal pressure
are good for neither ***.
But then why do we put up with it?
It’s time for a change.
Be that change.

Sincerely,
The man who dares to love.