I wear my mask
Happily and deliberately.
I am protected.
And now so is my family
I take on the burden
So my family doesn’t
I do as I was taught
Yet my family suffers
I do all that I can
But that is not enough
My wife takes my place
She works and works
And doesn’t succeed
I laugh knowingly
She could never beat me
But she keeps working
Not willing to see the truth
I am the man.
Only men can provide
She works and works
And the day finally comes;
The day I never thought possible
She prevails
She beat me.
The shame I feel
Burns through my heart
How can I go on knowing
My kids no longer respect me,
Or look up to me?
She beat me.
How can I go on knowing
She looks below her nose
Just to see me?
How can I go on knowing
My kids go to her with
Their hopes and dreams
Fears and thoughts
They go to her for their future.
So I wear a mask
Happily and deliberately
To protect my shame
And therefore my Family’s
I have no power
Except the mask I wear
The mask of strength.
The mask of wisdom.
The mask of pride.
A mask that protects
But it only protects me.