Death By Falling Appliance

I've developed an abusive relationship with an inanimate object
A cyclical pattern of worship, curiosity, and pain

Many men like me suffer from the same abuse
Although I don't think many others would label it as 'abuse' - that way
But I'm not like most men,
I can see the issue for what it is
While it might be a fraught ritual for some - for others it's the perfect release

I keep being drawn back to it
But like a wave, I'm pulled away again

By keeping my masculinity performative
I'm destined for disappointment
It's like a death by falling appliance
Unwanted, yet powerfully poetic
Unforeseen, yet incredibly apt

I'm always searching for a pulse in the worth of the world
But my existence does not assume the value of a solution
The answer isn't important
What's important is our patience
What's more is our desire to be accepted

My body and brain fight to make sure
that no other man can see through my attempts to self-actualize
And transcend the norms we're expected to uphold
Instead of being unique - we fall in line
And hope no one finds out that we have no idea what we're doing

No one knows what they're doing
No one knows what they're doing
And that's fine

Men will drive an unnecessary 900 miles in their lifetime
Before asking for directions
First off, that's fucking hilarious
But it's the inability to be in control, to prove oneself correct
To admit a lack of knowledge that is so troubling
After all, the roads we meander were meticulously made to be followed
In a system of lefts and rights
But we deal in rights and wrongs
And it's a wonder why I feel like I never belong

The troubling part of power is the constant fear of it being stripped away
But if something has the potential to be so easily disrupted
Then what was the point?
Where was the stability to begin with?
Where was the accountability for such power to be given so freely?
Such privilege wasted on the fallacy of masculinity

This is a telegram to men!
Dear men,
Stop.

A telegram to men -
Please listen - for once
Listen

The inmates run the asylum!
We want the control, we are unwilling to part with it
We feel bound and constrained
But no matter the situation, power is already ours
It always has been
There's no relinquishing it because our egos couldn't handle such a loss
Stop

A telegram to men -
It's okay to give others the helm
Let them lead - be a follower, a teammate, a colleague
For women, non-binary folks, and trans individuals are equally
If not more
capable of steering us toward a healthier and more equitable future
We just gotta listen to their direction for once
And put our stubbornness aside
Stop.

A telegram to men,
Feel - it's okay to feel
Cry - it's okay to cry
Heal - it's okay to heal
Be at peace - it's okay to be at peace
Proceed - proceed with steadfast optimism and a desire to learn more
Stop.

A telegram to men -
Dear men,
You are enough