big boys, quietly

never been sure why
when a woman cries,
the whole world pays attention;
but see a man sob,
and everyone looks away;
oh, sure,
"big boys don't cry,"
but that is
comic book reality,
and isn't worth
the paper it's printed on,
or the hearts it tosses
out the window,
wailing,
or sitting and waiting
by the phone,
like I'm doing now,
like I do all the time,
crying silently,
so quietly,
so as not to disturb
anyone but me.



March 7, 2009.

Copyright © 2009, Ricky A. Pursley. All rights reserved.