A man should say when he lied or not
be willing to apologize to the ones he hurt
wear denim jeans and a ripped shirt
crush a beer can and rub a cut with dirt
Like when I supply us with wood to cook
chopping and hacking in a violent mood
yet I still sees beauty in a wood duck hood
No real man says he can't hug another guy
or bow down and pray wife at his side
my message for young men today
Is they need to sack up and see
they can wear pink for sisters in need
and stop blaming Mom for being mean
Now is the time to get lean and lead

I wandered away from my path
the very one laid before me
into wood of the darkest nights
where nothing was warm nor loving
just cold alone

in that chilled lonely forest I stayed
blanketed in my own ignorance
aimlessly rounding the same bend
back to that frigid hollow dark
scared from solitude

In quiet maddened desperation
I heard whispers riding a breeze
remember who you are
to chattering naked limbs
was all needed saying

To find my way back on that path
laid out before me.

wisdom greets fifty
living half a century
arrives none too soon