Why

When
By Larry R Linville

When did I lose control
of my emotions?
When did the big lump in my throat
convert into tears down my cheeks?
A man is not supposed to cry
even when he is a boy
as we laugh at those weak girls
whose tears flow like Niagara Falls?
I lost it a little when my father died
and then my brother and my mom
but that was OK I was told.
I lost it more when my kids left home.
I ran off so nobody would see.
And when they got married
the throat lump and tears
were more than I could hide.

But now it’s so bad
it won’t seem to stop
when I see some one in great joy
as I feel what they feel.
my tears stare rudely
at the lump in their throat
when the Titans won that football game
or the Hoosiers won the state
or the Rookie gave the game ball to his dad.

It cleanses my eyes and my heart
and destroys that old lump
so I’m no longer embarrassed.