Abstract city by Christoph Niemann

For the New York Times

The haunted household


Let it dough!

Poem: BEING A MAN

“Be a man,” they say,
“and don’t cry.”
And I wonder why
a man is not meant to show emotion.
A man must wear a mask –
And when I ask
Why, he says, “Because I’m a man!”
But I think a man can
Display feelings.
I do – and more –
I shout when I score!
And when someone’s a bore,
I show it – for sure!
Slamming doors brings relief
When I’m cross.
When my sister annoys me
I yell
And I tell
Her where to get off
‘Cos I’m the boss!
And I hope when I’m older,
I’ll continue to show
Both joy and sorrow,
Compassion and pain;
And maybe – just maybe –
When I am a man,
I’ll help make the world sane –
With emotion.

John Davies