Think of Okonkwo
Noticing how you look so alike
While I read you
A closed, transparent book
When things fall apart
You are nothing but pieces of peace-less agony
The refusal to admit fear
Is the main reason why you are so weak
Denial restrains you in chains
Cowering like a prisoner afraid of the jailer's cane
Hence, you jump fences or dig trenches
Or beat a woman
Strangle her with your belt
Reveal her weaknesses
For your warden to not tell everyone
That you are scared
Of her rebellion
Against their immoral standards
You are too stiff, rigid,
Too dead in the head
To speak against them
And the voices of your friends
Repeating stories of nameless men
Make you cringe,
Cringe to think you are one of them
Though bravery is a feminine noun
شجاعة
And fear is a masculine noun
خوف
You use the phrases
Run like a girl
Lift like my grandmother
Remember, your mother was the fastest runner
And your grandmother had the strength
To raise seven men from little boys
As well as a farm to tend to
A true man does not sit behind a desk
Unable to lift heavy words of truth
Only able to use the heavy hands of stress
Against physical weakness
You do not understand
The true meaning of strength
Or courage
You are killing yourself everyday
To build a reputation named Macho
Your character is nothing but Okonkwo
April is Poetry Month: 30 Days, 30 poems.
Link to other poems: http://drumsofhopeagaisntahistoryofpain.blogspot.com/p/april-poetry.html