If I Ever Have Boys by Daragh Fleming

In a world where men are hard pressed to be softer… here is a poem I read for my little boy.

If I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men
They’ll smile at dogs and children and be a tonic to friends
They’ll send flowers to their mother just because and they’ll be a shoulder for many when the world is too much
My boys will know that vulnerability is strength
They won’t bottle anger, they’ll learn how to express
They won’t let pride be the reason they hide, wearing masks while they’re hurting inside
My boys will be dangerous men
They won’t stay silent even when it’s uncomfortable for them
They’ll learn that their actions are more effective than words but they’ll use their voices to amplify the unheard
They’ll know that love isn’t something to perform
They’ll see beauty in all of its forms
My boys won’t grow learning to emotionally hide
They’ll reshape masculinity into something they like, make it softer to touch
They’ll know that who they are is more than enough
They’ll know that being a man doesn’t mean carrying the burden alone
They’ll learn that an emotional man is a man fully grown
They won’t settle everything with violent swings
They’ll live in truth even when that truth stings
So yeah, if I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men
but the danger they’ll be won’t be the one society meant