Angry Boys
It's not that I, as a man am only allowed to feel angry But it is one of the easier emotions to display Sit a while and listen to all that I got to say... I'm mad that the world is starving for connection I'm concerned that the moral compass of humanity is in grave need of resurrection I'm critical of myself but brave enough to admit I want help I'm pissed off that there are children that go to bed hungry The mainstream media sells you the cure to no longer be lonely Paranoia convinces the wayward teen that everyone else around them is phony Distant from my peers Consistent with these fears Resentful of the greedy oligarchs The love of money will tear this lowly planet apart Dismissive of peaceful solutions Been disrespected by those who would beg at racist feet for momentary monetary absolution What would it profit anyone to gain the whole world but lose their soul? For temporary physical gain the weak would surely fold Let down by father figures once upon a time and again and again Skeptical of those who claim to be a true blue friend Betrayed by snakes in the grass and annoyed that I believed in those who'd rather play pretend I propose starting a new trend One where your weaker emotions will not bend But can be gently tucked in and understood and not be mistaken for weakness Because anger can not be the only thing we feel The sea of red is not the only thing that is real If this haggard thing of life is a road, anger can be a good tool to use Spur you on to greater purpose Just make sure that in your stumbles you do not curse us But just make sure you take a second look And give yourself proper time to cook Because there is more to this book Than anger making you appear like a secondhand crook Stealing joy from others because you don't know how to properly hold your own So ignore the noise Find your poise That is what will separate the well rounded men from the angry boys
I was struck by the moment where anger stops being the destination and becomes a doorway.
So often we try to get rid of anger, or we let it become our identity. Your poem offers another possibility: to listen to what anger is protecting until it no longer has to speak so loudly.
I especially appreciated the final distinction between well-rounded men and angry boys. Growth is not the absence of anger. It is the willingness to let every other human emotion have a voice as well.
Thank you for writing this.