Daragh Fleming

“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 mothers 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.
No, 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.”
― Daragh Fleming