Finally a poem speaking out to the faults in our society's expectation of men & masculinity. We should raise boys & girls the same way. Not raise them to be an "ideal woman" or an "ideal man" but just to be good human being.
“I began building my masculinity on the corpses of everything that made me human.” WOW. This everything you need to know about toxic masculinity summed up beautifully. Thank you 💛
Blown away by this poem. Not only the message it carries -- which is powerful and fierce and so necessary in our society -- but also the writing, which is deftly graceful. I've listened to it 3 times already and I can't get over the richness of the imager and the shockwave in each transition. Love it.
"take away fear; take way love; take away emotion; you don't get god, you get something less than human. This is not how you survive, this is not lessons for the living, it's how you raise the dead."
my family used to call me "big-headed boy", too smart for his own good, they said, my brain was getting bigger, taking my skull on a ride that my body would have to catch up to later, my grandma said, "don't grow up too fast, there's plenty of time to join this war." i knew nothing of war. i learned how to fight when i was nine. my brother taught me that my fists, they could dig a well, and... and i would die of thirst if i ever stopped swinging. people became obstacles-- emotion, i mean weakness, intolerable. "soundproof the walls of your heart," they said, "and don't let anyone hear how loud it's beating when you lock your eyes with the moon. this is how you survive." i fell in love when i was twelve, with a kind voice and multicolored barrettes, i don't remember her name, the name her father whispered into her mother's belly long before i came along. my cousin said, "call her body. call her clothing," he said, "call her dog. call her anything your anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into. don't grow up too fast," he said, "you know nothing of love; this is how you survive." i began running up steps two and three at a time, trying to get to manhood a little faster, you see, my father was a pastor who didn't teach me that being a man meant fearing god, but that being a man meant being god, and being god meant fearing nothing, that each shed tear pulled me further away from this man i was supposed to be, forgetting that it was the moment that i cried for the first time, that anyone even knew i was breathing, and this is my inheritance-- the struggle between a need to be loved and a want to be worshipped. my mother taught me that jesus was a carpenter, so i began building my throne of masculinity on the corpses of everything that made me human. they said, "this is how you survive. this is how you win the game," thinking that they were giving me some head start in adjusting to our society but what's the use of being well-adjusted to something that's broken. masculinity is getting more and more expensive. they said in order to become a man, i had to abandon the boy. that i had to sacrifice my humanity so i wouldn't lose my inheritance, but i learn math in my mistakes. i know that when you take away fear, take away love, take away emotion, you don't get god, you get something less than human. this is not how you survive, these are not lessons for the living, this is how you raise the dead. this is how you sharpen teeth, raising boys to find this world as something for our consumption, that we should never give up until the no sounds like yes. this is how you raise boys, to strip the label of human from anyone we don't deem worthy. this is how you raise boys, to believe this is all okay. this is not okay. i learned how to fight when i was nine, and i still haven't stopped swinging because the road from wolf to human is a fight-- a fight of unlearning, of peeling back the layers, of coming to terms with privilege, of biting my tongue, and trying not to howl at the moon.
I think that's Dylan "wooing in all the video's. He is a cofounder of button poetry which is why it sounds so loud he is not to far off from the camera.
I don't know. Probably because their human, and make mistakes, and have been hurt before at some point in their life. While that doesn't give anyone an excuse to be cold towards someone else, it is a reason why some women are "coldhearted."
Thank you. I needed this. im going through a horrible break up right now. we lasted two years and 3 months. I love her. I will always love her. but throughout those three years I kept telling myself that love is weakness. showing fear is weakness and to never let anyone see you cry. I showed her the dry white streaks on my face the next day we broke up. on the same day she had another man in her bed. I showed her my weakness. all that did was make me feel worse.
She was never yours to have or to hold. She, herself, has expectations that were taught to her as a child, that unfortunately, must come to fruition. She won't know this until she hits rock bottom discovering the reason to all of her failed relationships. The poet speaks on a topic not typically embraced. I'm glad. It just takes one.
One poem and I am in love. Seriously this poem is so insightful and beautiful. He put into words things that I have been feeling for a while. Thank you.
my family used to call me "big-headed boy", too smart for his own good, they said, my brain was getting bigger, taking my skull on a ride that my body would have to catch up to later, my grandma said, "don't grow up too fast, there's plenty of time to join this war." i knew nothing of war. i learned how to fight when i was nine. my brother taught me that my fists, they could dig a well, and... and i would die of thirst if i ever stopped swinging. people became obstacles-- emotion, i mean weakness, intolerable. "soundproof the walls of your heart," they said, "and don't let anyone hear how loud it's beating when you lock your eyes with the moon. this is how you survive." i fell in love when i was twelve, with a kind voice and multicolored barrettes, i don't remember her name, the name her father whispered into her mother's belly long before i came along. my cousin said, "call her body. call her clothing," he said, "call her dog. call her anything your anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into. don't grow up too fast," he said, "you know nothing of love; this is how you survive." i began running up steps two and three at a time, trying to get to manhood a little faster, you see, my father was a pastor who didn't teach me that being a man meant fearing god, but that being a man meant being god, and being god meant fearing nothing, that each shed tear pulled me further away from this man i was supposed to be, forgetting that it was the moment that i cried for the first time, that anyone even knew i was breathing, and this is my inheritance-- the struggle between a need to be loved and a want to be worshipped. my mother taught me that jesus was a carpenter, so i began building my throne of masculinity on the corpses of everything that made me human. they said, "this is how you survive. this is how you win the game," thinking that they were giving me some head start in adjusting to our society but what's the use of being well-adjusted to something that's broken. masculinity is getting more and more expensive. they said in order to become a man, i had to abandon the boy. that i had to sacrifice my humanity so i wouldn't lose my inheritance, but i learn math in my mistakes. i know that when you take away fear, take away love, take away emotion, you don't get god, you get something less than human. this is not how you survive, these are not lessons for the living, this is how you raise the dead. this is how you sharpen teeth, raising boys to find this world as something for our consumption, that we should never give up until the no sounds like yes. this is how you raise boys, to strip the label of human from anyone we don't deem worthy. this is how you raise boys, to believe this is all okay. this is not okay. i learned how to fight when i was nine, and i still haven't stopped swinging because the road from wolf to human is a fight-- a fight of unlearning, of peeling back the layers, of coming to terms with privilege, of biting my tongue, and trying not to howl at the moon.
He says: My cousin said "Call her body. Call her clothing" he said "call her dog. Call her anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into." "Don't grow up too fast," he said "you know nothing of love."
All men should feel free to be sensitive, all women should feel free to be strong. --Emma Watson
"What's the use of being well adjusted to something that's broken?"
"This is not a lesson for the living this is how you raise the dead."
Finally a poem speaking out to the faults in our society's expectation of men & masculinity.
We should raise boys & girls the same way. Not raise them to be an "ideal woman" or an "ideal man" but just to be good human being.
YES! THANK YOU!
People should just be raised to be good human beings, man. Doesn't matter if they're a boy or girl.
That's exactly what you're saying. Dude, are you confused?
Gender doesn't matter, dude.
alright buddy keep on with ur different opinion
Each. And. Every. One. Of. His. Poems. Good God. I always get chills.
“I began building my masculinity on the corpses of everything that made me human.” WOW. This everything you need to know about toxic masculinity summed up beautifully. Thank you 💛
He is cute on the outside, beautiful on the inside.
Blown away by this poem. Not only the message it carries -- which is powerful and fierce and so necessary in our society -- but also the writing, which is deftly graceful. I've listened to it 3 times already and I can't get over the richness of the imager and the shockwave in each transition. Love it.
Considering the fact that this is a sensitive topic, I hope it isn't inappropriate for me to say that I think I'm in love with him.
Same
same
DEAR LORD SAME.
"take away fear; take way love; take away emotion; you don't get god, you get something less than human. This is not how you survive, this is not lessons for the living, it's how you raise the dead."
'this is how you raise the dead'
absolutely magnificent
His poems are so good. Everytime I see his face in my sub box I have to watch
my family used to call me "big-headed boy",
too smart for his own good, they said, my brain was getting bigger,
taking my skull on a ride that my body would have to catch up to later,
my grandma said, "don't grow up too fast, there's plenty of time to join this war."
i knew nothing of war. i learned how to fight when i was nine.
my brother taught me that my fists, they could dig a well, and...
and i would die of thirst if i ever stopped swinging.
people became obstacles--
emotion, i mean weakness, intolerable.
"soundproof the walls of your heart," they said,
"and don't let anyone hear how loud it's beating when you lock your eyes with the moon.
this is how you survive."
i fell in love when i was twelve,
with a kind voice and multicolored barrettes, i don't remember her name,
the name her father whispered into her mother's belly long before i came along.
my cousin said, "call her body. call her clothing," he said, "call her dog.
call her anything your anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into.
don't grow up too fast," he said, "you know nothing of love;
this is how you survive."
i began running up steps two and three at a time,
trying to get to manhood a little faster, you see,
my father was a pastor
who didn't teach me that being a man meant fearing god,
but that being a man meant being god,
and being god meant fearing nothing,
that each shed tear pulled me further away from
this man i was supposed to be,
forgetting that it was the moment that i cried for the first time,
that anyone even knew i was breathing,
and this is my inheritance--
the struggle between a need to be loved and a want to be worshipped.
my mother taught me that jesus was a carpenter,
so i began building my throne of masculinity
on the corpses of everything that made me human.
they said, "this is how you survive. this is how you win the game,"
thinking that they were giving me some head start in adjusting to our society
but what's the use of being well-adjusted to something that's broken.
masculinity is getting more and more expensive.
they said in order to become a man,
i had to abandon the boy.
that i had to sacrifice my humanity so i wouldn't lose my inheritance,
but i learn math in my mistakes.
i know that when you take away fear, take away love, take away emotion,
you don't get god, you get something less than human.
this is not how you survive,
these are not lessons for the living,
this is how you raise the dead.
this is how you sharpen teeth,
raising boys to find this world as something for our consumption,
that we should never give up until the no sounds like yes.
this is how you raise boys,
to strip the label of human from anyone we don't deem worthy.
this is how you raise boys,
to believe this is all okay.
this is not okay.
i learned how to fight when i was nine,
and i still haven't stopped swinging
because the road from wolf to human is a fight--
a fight of unlearning,
of peeling back the layers,
of coming to terms with privilege,
of biting my tongue,
and trying not to howl at the moon.
This is soo good. I am crying.
Unbelievable. Thank you Joseph for sharing what's in your heart and in the heart's of so many men.
I’m JUST now hip to this. Love 💕💕💕
This is a wonderful poem.
Is there just one guy that goes to every poetry recital and yells "Woo!" right as the applause starts? xD
I think that's Dylan "wooing in all the video's. He is a cofounder of button poetry which is why it sounds so loud he is not to far off from the camera.
I keep coming back to this poem. This is so good.
What a gorgeous piece -- strikingly vivid imagery spoken with unflinching honesty. Thank you, sir.
i want to give ever boy a hug, just everyine actually have a hug
This makes me think soo much. I love this.
Wow. Why can't all men think like this? I loved every word.
Why, cant all women be faithful, instead of coldhearted.
I don't know. Probably because their human, and make mistakes, and have been hurt before at some point in their life. While that doesn't give anyone an excuse to be cold towards someone else, it is a reason why some women are "coldhearted."
Well put. I agree.
Adam Shaw beautiful
Thank you for this. Very refreshing.
I understand him so much with this.
He has a really nice voice
this left me speechless. amazing job :)
This is a beauty
Thank you. I needed this. im going through a horrible break up right now. we lasted two years and 3 months. I love her. I will always love her. but throughout those three years I kept telling myself that love is weakness. showing fear is weakness and to never let anyone see you cry. I showed her the dry white streaks on my face the next day we broke up. on the same day she had another man in her bed. I showed her my weakness. all that did was make me feel worse.
She was never yours to have or to hold. She, herself, has expectations that were taught to her as a child, that unfortunately, must come to fruition. She won't know this until she hits rock bottom discovering the reason to all of her failed relationships.
The poet speaks on a topic not typically embraced. I'm glad. It just takes one.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you.
This is so deep, thank Joseph.
Everyone NEEDS to hear this! Wow... Amazing, Perfect but sadly so True!
One poem and I am in love. Seriously this poem is so insightful and beautiful. He put into words things that I have been feeling for a while. Thank you.
Amazing! That last sentence...
"what's the use of being well adjusted to something that's broken"
I normally don't comment on the poems but wow that was incredible... So deep
Really powerful and really true
Ugh this guy is amazing
YA YA YA!!! :D Great poem!! "Lock eyes with the moon"
BEAUTIFUL.
you are FIRE
Chills! Beautiful poem.
I just share this masterpiece on Facebook.
i needed this, thank you very much.
Oh man! OH DAMN!👏🏾👌🏾🔥
Holy shit.
That was amazing.
This is incredible
His poetry is absolutely incredible. So, so smart. This is the type of man people should strive to become.
I love this❤
the last line tho
I'm in love
Amazing. .
this is awesome
Powerful
goosebumps
That last line. Phew.
"Emotion - I mean, weakness... intolerable"
"Call her anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into".
"My mother taught me that Jesus is carpenter. So I began building my throne of masculinity, on the corpses of everything that made me human." 🙌🏼
yes
Amazing
Powerful defending demanding
His flow reminds me so much of Phil Kaye
is it safe to say im in love?
Wow
"This is how you raise boys to strip the label of human from anyone they don't deem worthy." 👌
wow👏👏👏👏
You should put subtitles on your videos
I agree. I couldn't understand a lot and those with poor or no hearing would be included if there were subtitles.
+igirlmusic25 there are subtitles
These subtitles are awful. If you want me to transcribe it for you, I would be happy to do so.
my family used to call me "big-headed boy",
too smart for his own good, they said, my brain was getting bigger,
taking my skull on a ride that my body would have to catch up to later,
my grandma said, "don't grow up too fast, there's plenty of time to join this war."
i knew nothing of war. i learned how to fight when i was nine.
my brother taught me that my fists, they could dig a well, and...
and i would die of thirst if i ever stopped swinging.
people became obstacles--
emotion, i mean weakness, intolerable.
"soundproof the walls of your heart," they said,
"and don't let anyone hear how loud it's beating when you lock your eyes with the moon.
this is how you survive."
i fell in love when i was twelve,
with a kind voice and multicolored barrettes, i don't remember her name,
the name her father whispered into her mother's belly long before i came along.
my cousin said, "call her body. call her clothing," he said, "call her dog.
call her anything your anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into.
don't grow up too fast," he said, "you know nothing of love;
this is how you survive."
i began running up steps two and three at a time,
trying to get to manhood a little faster, you see,
my father was a pastor
who didn't teach me that being a man meant fearing god,
but that being a man meant being god,
and being god meant fearing nothing,
that each shed tear pulled me further away from
this man i was supposed to be,
forgetting that it was the moment that i cried for the first time,
that anyone even knew i was breathing,
and this is my inheritance--
the struggle between a need to be loved and a want to be worshipped.
my mother taught me that jesus was a carpenter,
so i began building my throne of masculinity
on the corpses of everything that made me human.
they said, "this is how you survive. this is how you win the game,"
thinking that they were giving me some head start in adjusting to our society
but what's the use of being well-adjusted to something that's broken.
masculinity is getting more and more expensive.
they said in order to become a man,
i had to abandon the boy.
that i had to sacrifice my humanity so i wouldn't lose my inheritance,
but i learn math in my mistakes.
i know that when you take away fear, take away love, take away emotion,
you don't get god, you get something less than human.
this is not how you survive,
these are not lessons for the living,
this is how you raise the dead.
this is how you sharpen teeth,
raising boys to find this world as something for our consumption,
that we should never give up until the no sounds like yes.
this is how you raise boys,
to strip the label of human from anyone we don't deem worthy.
this is how you raise boys,
to believe this is all okay.
this is not okay.
i learned how to fight when i was nine,
and i still haven't stopped swinging
because the road from wolf to human is a fight--
a fight of unlearning,
of peeling back the layers,
of coming to terms with privilege,
of biting my tongue,
and trying not to howl at the moon.
WOW
Damn.
who does he get his poems from
Fucking beautiful. Finally!
How can I get hold of Joseph?
Can someone tell me what he says at 0:54 please?
He says:
My cousin said "Call her body. Call her clothing" he said "call her dog. Call her anything your insecurities can sink their teeth into."
"Don't grow up too fast," he said "you know nothing of love."
Does this count as a published poem?
again pls
"Till the No sounds like Yes"
this reminds me of wolf from the lunar chronicles, anyone else?
Biting my tounge and trying not to howl at the moon....
Is it weird that I'm a girl and this describes me
Nah.
horsecrazy2266 Nope. We live in a society where people believe that EVERYONE should be invulnerable.
horsecrazy2266 Nope. We live in a society where people believe that EVERYONE should be invulnerable.
Soala Idasetima I mean. I just believe that I should be invulnerable. I'm learning more now, though
Damn
He looks like Larenz Tate from love jones
Great poem and all but honestly no offense but date me
God
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Lovely, however it sounds awfully like Rudy Francisco...hmmm...
FEMINISM. Ok I know it was about raising CHILDREN properly but there was a bit of feminism so yay.
Such excellence from start to finish
Love