To Make A Man by Dennis Lange

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To Make A Man by Dennis Lange

October 25, 2011 by Dennis Lange

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To Make a Man

We better our beginnings or we fail.
Though lads are lads within womb’s earliest,
Takes more to make a man than being male.

Like ships at sea we’ll face an icy gale.
It’s those who conquer self who pass the test.
We better our beginnings or we fail.

Sad, those who let the animal prevail.
A lad can sire but sir be still a jest.
Takes more to make a man than being male.

A fool can roam the streets and end in jail,
But fools lack skills and sense to shape a nest.
We better our beginnings or we fail.

A child will fight for toys, tooth, toenail.
Two dogs can play a game and swell a chest.
Takes more to make a man than being male.

Man’s masculinity is on birth’s scale.
But traits that build integrity are best.
We better our beginnings or we fail.
Takes more to make a man than being male.

Posted in My Poems, Religious, Villanelle | Tagged < META name = "keywords" content = "To Make a Man, bard on the hill, Dennis Lange, integrity, masculinity, poem, poetry, takes more to make a man than being male" >, villanelle | 15 Comments

15 Responses

on October 25, 2011 at 2:33 PM | Reply scribe62

How true that is…
Good work Sir, I am especially intrigued by the device of the poetry.
Regards,
Tim
(SteelTee)
on October 25, 2011 at 6:41 PM | Reply Becoming Bitter

One word for you: Awesome. I’m gonna read this poem to my STUPID uncle. He’s definitely not a man or a male for that matter.
- on October 25, 2011 at 7:01 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Unfortunately, men take a longer time to grow up and some never do. It’s our society. We have a completely false idea of what a MAN is. Oh, and for that kind of man – you may have to read the poem 3 or 4 times, and S L O W L Y. lol
on October 25, 2011 at 7:06 PM | Reply Becoming Bitter

Exactly, you are so right!
Seriously reading this poem just fit my mood.
- on October 25, 2011 at 7:24 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  That one was aimed at men. There’s one coming up soon directed at women, the women who are their enablers. 🙂 I’ll post that one Saturday (probably). I’m hoping that you have a second blog some day and you name it “Became Bitter / Becoming Better”. 🙂
  - on October 25, 2011 at 8:15 PM Becoming Bitter
    
    Lol. My blog did catch your attention didn’t it? I have to say it is one sexy blog. I think I am becoming better by letting it all out, by looking at the likes and comments. 🙂
    
    Women… hmm…. somehow that worries me lol.
on October 25, 2011 at 8:41 PM | Reply kathryningrid

REALLY outstanding. Beautifully done, Dennis. Thoughtful, gentle but pointed. Marvelously rhythmic. Great stuff.
- on October 26, 2011 at 6:29 AM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Thanks! The villanelle lends its repetition to some themes very well.
on October 25, 2011 at 8:51 PM | Reply Dennis N. O'Brien

You pretty much sum it up with this poem – looking forward to the female version. Australian males tend to be (or think they are) quite macho on average, consequently I get some strange looks when they find out I write poetry.
on October 26, 2011 at 1:33 AM | Reply scribe62

Hello Dennis (waves Aussie flag)
You’re not alone cobber.
Ooroo,
Tim.
- on October 26, 2011 at 5:15 AM | Reply Dennis N. O'Brien
  
  Ah a chance to write in strine – g’day Tim, ow yer goin mate, nice ta meetcha. I’ll be follerin yer blog.
  Sorry Dennis 🙂
on October 26, 2011 at 7:58 AM | Reply Maggie

I add my kudos to the remarks of everyone else. Well done, and looking forward to the companion piece. This reminds me that I should get back to the villanelle. I’ve strayed a bit lately. My favorite line in this poem is line 17: “But traits that build integrity are best.” Agreed. And thanks for your comments about organ donation. Helping me to decide whether to check that little box on my driver’s license. Think I will.
on October 29, 2011 at 9:51 AM | Reply Be The Treasure by Dennis Lange « The Bard on the Hill

[…] The above was written to young women. The companion piece, “To Make A Man”, was written to young men and can be found here: https://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/to-make-a-man-by-dennis-lange/ […]
on December 15, 2011 at 2:57 PM | Reply Jessica

Thanks for sending me this link today. It perfectly fit a post I wrote about a man not being a man and the struggles that a woman faces in relation to him. http://unorthodoxmom.com/category/poetry/
- on December 15, 2011 at 5:44 PM | Reply thebardonthehill
  
  Glad you liked it!