Merely

I’m sorry.

I’m just a man.

I don’t know what I represent

to you

or anybody else.

I only know

who I am

and who I’m not,

what I’ve done

and what I haven’t.

I’m not trying

to steal air

or drink water

or take space

that was meant

for you.

I’m not looking

for more.

Merely enough.

I’m trying to find

the space,

the shape,

the recess,

that fits

me best.

Surely there’s room

for that?

When they ask

whose man

I am,

I want to be

a man

my wife

and daughter

are proud

to call theirs.

I want to be

a man

who has love enough

for himself

and doesn’t need

to seek it elsewhere.

I want to be

a man who

looks in the mirror

and does not feel shame.

I want to be

a man who

owns the stripping away

and the rebuild.

I want to be

a man who

owns the walk

and the talk.

I want to be

a man who owns

the name –

Man –

even if it

only describes

this man,

this space,

this moment,

this breath.

I am no more

brave

and no less

afraid

than you.

Life is no less

precious to me.

Who you

think I am

and who I

think I am

may not be

the same.

But maybe we

are both wrong

and both right.

That is possible,

right?

I don’t know

who I’ll be

when I wake tomorrow.

But I hope

I’ll be

a man who

is unafraid

to breathe,

to cry,

to laugh,

or to die.

I hope

I’ll be

a man who

doesn’t feel

the need to say

I’m sorry.