a boy becomes a man when he realizes that he is not harmless by Ivan Cavanagh

remind me of the man i am

that my softness is the sun on skin that grows fresh fruit

not bruises on apples that little boys won’t eat

hold me until the callouses melt off

until all of my venom falls from my eyes.

tell me it’s okay to cry.

coax out this part of me,

the part of me that says every other part must be beaten out,

the shell, the needles, the armor of my rage

lift the bloodstained helmet and kiss the face beneath it.