What Makes A Man? Poem by Gauri Gupta

What makes a Man
Pride, ego or conceit
Or is it just another attempt
At compromise and self defeat

What makes a Man
Kill another, and watch him bleed
As he stands over him
Gloating at his great feat

What makes a Man
Inspired, and admired
A leader of hundreds and thousands
And forever immortal

What makes a Man
Unforgettable and loved
A moment of truth
Or one guided by his lust

What makes a Man
Torn, hurt and in despair
A con of his lover
Or his expectations not met

What makes a Man
Endure pain and torture
A soul of grit and iron
Or hope for a better life

What makes a Man
Forget his honor and code
And turn him into a beast
Inhumane, with no remorse

Is this the purpose of existence
Guided by greed and persistence
To be the one, supreme and unfought
Yet, the lost, the confused and the fraught

When will it end, this satire by God
A cruel joke on humanity
Or just the mere ones’ lot
Does it make sense
To awaken and to rise
Only to be crushed and forgotten
In the sands of time…