When A Man Cries

Slowly breaking down barriers

That seemed like inpentratible walls

The pain starts to fade

It gets a little easier now.

He feels tears water in his eyes

Then one falls down his cheek

Then another,

He starts to feel more understanding towards others

Who are venerable

Like he is beginning to become.

When a man cries

He tries not to feel ashamed

Though the stigmas are hard to fight

He needs a friend to tell him

That everything is alright.

He tries to get rid of the macho role

That has been conditioned by so many years

He tries to confront those inbuilt fears.

He tries in anger

And in frustration

Until the violence is gone,

Others may laugh

As he becomes more sensitive

But he knows he is becoming strong.

When a man cries

He frees his heartache

Though others may try to mock

He just needs a friend to tell him

That there is nothing to feel ashamed of.

A little hazy now

He recalls a lonely room

That he returned to at the end of troubled days,

Where he fought depression

And depression always tried to win

All around the world went wild with rage.

Where people twisted each other’s arms

Oblivious to the pain

Until we forget just what the hurting was

He remembered overflowing ashtrays

Tenants super cans scattered everywhere.

Then he starts to recall

The words of compassion that came

How he started to walk down a different road

Never wanting to return to the scene again.

When a man cries

He feels a little uneasy

Though his faith is becoming strong

He needs a friend to tell him

That there is nothing to be afraid of.

Gently we learn how to comfort each other

We reach for tender moments

That we can share,

Friend can we seek freedom and acceptance

In this stigmatised land.

When a man cries

He feels stronger in his spirit

And more sensitive in his soul

Crying is hard to do

It takes a lot of courage

Can we try?

Frank Bangay

September 1984