Be a Man

 I drink to forget

About the pain and regret,

A thousand jabs

Before every sunset.

It's hard to believe

That this is my life,

How I tolerate

Shots fired by the wife.

It hurts to proclaim

That it's not a big deal,

To dismiss and ignore

How I truly feel.

"Be a Man," she had said,

As we sought to smash bugs, 

Surely it was in jest

As I choke tears back in my chest.

"Be a Man," she had said, 

Effortless in breath.

I must have forgot,

Love's grave's a slow death.