{"id":3536,"date":"2026-02-18T15:54:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/?p=3536"},"modified":"2026-02-24T17:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T17:49:41","slug":"the-crying-very-painful-moment-of-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/the-crying-very-painful-moment-of-men\/","title":{"rendered":"The crying, very painful moment of men"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Who listens to the cries of the fathers<br>who bury their wives and go home<br>to children still calling out, \u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who holds the man who must be strong at the funeral,<br>strong in the living room, strong at the dinner table,<br>when all he wants is to fall apart without frightening the little eyes<br>watching him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who listens to the boy sunk in unemployment,<br>degree folded in a drawer, phone silent,<br>friends moving ahead while he stands still<br>counting coins and shame?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They tell him, \u201cBe a man.\u201d<br>As if manhood is a job offer. As if strength pays rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who listens to the stories men swallow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because a river without an outlet<br>does not stay fresh. It turns salty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And a man without someone safe does not stay soft.<br>He hardens. Sometimes into silence.<br>Sometimes into anger. Sometimes into someone<br>even he does not recognize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We ask men to provide. Provide money.<br>Provide answers. Provide protection.<br>Provide a shoulder. Provide solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But who provides for the provider?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After circumcision, the songs end.<br>The celebration fades. And suddenly, he is alone with expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one asks about his fear, No one explains his tears.<br>He is told, \u201cFrom today, you are a man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But no one shows him where to take his confusion.<br>Where to place his heartbreak, where to empty the pressure<br>of becoming before he understands what he is becoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So he learns to hide. He hides the bullying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>He hides the abuse. Yes, men are abused too.<br>He hides the failure, He hides the nights<br>He stares at the ceiling, wondering if he is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when men die by their own hands, we whisper,<br>\u201cHow did we not see it?\u201d But did we ever ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When prisons are full of men, when streets are loud with rage,<br>When homes shake from unhealed wounds, we blame the man<br>without asking who held him when he was a boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is okay for a man to cry when he is overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is okay for a man to say, \u201cI am tired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is okay not to be okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it is not okay to bleed on others<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>because you never learned how to dress your own wounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rooms where men can sit, without pretending.<br>Without performing, without being measured<br>by how much they earn or how little they feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need affordable therapy, Conversations in churches.<br>In schools, In community halls.<br>On the radio, At dinner tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need uncles who speak gently.<br>Leaders who admit they have struggled too.<br>Brothers who check in, without laughing it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need to teach the boychild that strength is not silence.<br>That courage is not violence, that tears do not cancel manhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because a generation that cannot speak will eventually explode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And we cannot afford, to keep losing our men, to pride,<br>to pressure, to pain they were told to carry alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who listens to the fathers?<br>Who listens to the sons? Let it be us. Before the river turns salty.<br>Before the silence becomes rage. Before it is too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let men be human. Let them feel.<br>Let them speak. Let them heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because saving the boychild<br>is not a trend, It is survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/1BsgdQVxz4\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/1BsgdQVxz4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/i-strongly-fell-in-love-in-the-wrong-arms\/\">I strongly fell in love in the wrong arms by walkingshadow<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Boy child spoken word poem by Walking shadow poetry| Poet\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iDC2DbKQfqo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who listens to the cries of the fatherswho bury their wives and go hometo children still calling out, \u201cDad?\u201d Who holds the man who must be strong at the funeral,strong in the living room, strong at the dinner table,when all he wants is to fall apart without frightening the little eyeswatching him? Who listens to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3207,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121,97,25,98],"tags":[35,49,34,67,50,61,55,53,22,48],"class_list":["post-3536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poem","category-poetry","category-solitude","category-storytime","tag-poems","tag-poetess","tag-poetry","tag-preciousowoko","tag-spokenword","tag-spokenwords","tag-stories","tag-story","tag-walkingshadowpoetry","tag-walkingshadowpoetrykenya"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/MG_0273-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2965,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/how-to-know-if-a-guy-is-serious-from-the-first-date-by-precious-owoko\/","url_meta":{"origin":3536,"position":0},"title":"HOW TO KNOW IF A GUY IS SERIOUS FROM THE FIRST DATE by precious owoko.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"January 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It can be challenging to gauge if a guy is serious and ready to commit on the first date, but there are key indicators in his behavior, communication, and responses that can provide insight. Here\u2019s what to look for: 1. He\u2019s Intentional About the Date Signs to Look For: He\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;poem&quot;","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"man and woman walking on road","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-photo-2739305.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-photo-2739305.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-photo-2739305.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-photo-2739305.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5481,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/the-pain-of-not-being-seen-by-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":3536,"position":1},"title":"The pain of not being seen by love","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"March 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever been to a season wherethings just don\u2019t work, no matter how hard you try,and every time your phone ringsYou already know it\u2019s not about you? Have you ever been that person?Everyone runs to when life gets heavy,the one who listens, fixes, shows up,But no one really stops\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Art&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/art\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MG_9430-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MG_9430-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MG_9430-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MG_9430-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3443,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/not-crazy-just-in-need-of-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":3536,"position":2},"title":"NOT CRAZY JUST IN NEED OF LOVE","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"October 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"When the mind snaps...It doesn\u2019t always scream.Sometimes it goes quiet,too quiet.Like a storm pretending to restwhile destroying everything inside. And when you see someone breaking\u2026Don\u2019t rush to fix them.Be still.Because sometimes,the holiest thing you can offeris silence that listens. Don\u2019t say, \u201cCalm down.\u201dSay, \u201cYou\u2019re safe. I\u2019m here.\u201dLet your presence become\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;poem&quot;","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0L2A9201-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0L2A9201-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0L2A9201-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0L2A9201-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3497,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/let-me-tell-you-the-kind-of-love-i-want\/","url_meta":{"origin":3536,"position":3},"title":"\u00a0\u201cLet Me Tell You the Kind of Love I Want\u201d","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Let me tell youthe kind of love I want. Not the loud kind.Not the one that hurts and then apologizes.Not the one that makes me feel like I\u2019m too muchfor asking to be treated gently. I want a patient love.The kind that waits.The kind that doesn\u2019t rush my healingor punish\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;poem&quot;","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/xacEsG4Cyfg\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2377,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/am-a-man-am-human\/","url_meta":{"origin":3536,"position":4},"title":"AM A MAN, AM HUMAN.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"June 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In the shadow of his mind, he walks alone,Battles raging, struggles deeply sown.Invisible wounds, unseen scars,The weight of the world, like iron bars. A man once strong, now lost in thought,Invisible chains, his spirit caught.Each day a battle, a war within,Fighting demons, to find peace again. Friends and family, they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;POETRY&quot;","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"close up shot of a man crying","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-9063615.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-9063615.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-9063615.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-9063615.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2582,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/the-rise-and-the-fall-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":3536,"position":5},"title":"&#8220;The Rise and the Fall&#8221; by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"He came from a place where the dust danced with the wind,A small house on the edge of the land,Where meals were scarce, but hope was plenty,He dreamed of a life where he\u2019d have more than enough. He worked through the nights, while others slept,Pushed through the days, with sweat\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;POETRY&quot;","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"man holding brown rope","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1458696.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1458696.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1458696.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1458696.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1458696.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3536"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3538,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3536\/revisions\/3538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}