All Men Are Little Boys Poem by Jeffrey Rowe

Sometimes it is difficult to realize all men were, one time, little boys
And as a little boy we were greatly influenced by our mothers.
We ask our mama's where did we come from?
And, what is love?
Very often we tell mama we want to marry a girl just like her.
Then, just like that, we are no longer little boys
But grown up men,
And yet, we still are little boys in our heart
Especially when we want to be the hero for the woman we love.
It seems almost impossible, to us men, that a woman can say,
"I don't understand men."
Because, we men are very simple
And our mothers trained us.
As little boys, we cry just as hard as little girls,
Perhaps louder and more often,
And yet, as we grow—
Big boys don't cry
Except in our hearts, but we don't show it.
How can it be that women don't understand us?
All we want to do is please them and make them happy.
When we see a woman we desire and want,
We immediately become afraid that we will be rejected.
Some of us can't bear the thought of it.
Others of us just pretend and hide our fear.
Oh how often I have fallen apart inside my heart
And how many times I've hidden the fear?
Oh how often I wondered whether or not I am even lovable?
And yet, I continue on—
Looking for the success to overcome my many failures
And hoping I am not laughed at or made fun of
Because I don't know whether or not I can bear it?
Oh mamma, where are you?
I feel so alone and afraid so often.
My tears are everywhere, and nobody even notices