02/27/2026
IF I EVER HAVE BOYS
A poem by Daragh Fleming
If I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men
They’ll smile at dogs and children
and be a tonic to friends
They’ll send flowers to their mother just because
and they’ll be a shoulder for many
when the world is too much
My boys will know
that vulnerability is strength
They won’t bottle anger,
they’ll learn how to express
They won’t let pride be the reason
they hide, wearing masks
while they’re hurting inside
My boys will be dangerous men
They won’t stay silent
even when it’s uncomfortable for them
They’ll learn that their actions are more effective than words
but they’ll use their voices
to amplify the unheard
They’ll know that love
isn’t something to perform
They’ll see beauty in all of its forms
My boys won’t grow learning
to emotionally hide
They’ll reshape masculinity
into something they like,
make it softer to touch
They’ll know that who they are
is more than enough
They’ll know that being a man
doesn’t mean carrying the burden alone
They’ll learn that an emotional man
is a man fully grown
They won’t settle everything
with violent swings
They’ll live in truth
even when that truth stings
So yeah, if I ever have boys
they’ll be dangerous men
but the danger they’ll be
won’t the one society meant
