A Time to Cry

A stiff upper lip, act like a man,
don’t let them see you cry.
Chin up! Play up and play the game.
Don’t be a baby. Be a man!
Men are expected
with unreadable face,
and women under glass ceilings
take up the pose.
Emotions, though, serve a purpose.
To grieve, to cry, to seek solace
is natural, healthy, wise.
Keep a stiff upper lip? Maybe,
but it’s hard to sooth the soul
by stuffing your face stiff-lipped.
Better to shed a tear
than garner pounds to shed.
crying