Michigan painter and writer Ivan Jenson has shared his words with us before (Hunger Strike, The Problem). See some of his art at his web site. This poem will make you think. When you read it, do you feel like Ivan is speaking for men or for a more generic human of either gender?
Mouth of Babes
By Ivan Jenson
Be Captain Courageous
as the king of the jungle
like the strongman at the fair
you must hammer down your fears
smile like the high wire clown
or the high-rise steel worker having lunch on a beam
find the strength of Bruce Lee on the drive-in
movie screen
these are some of
the things we say
to stop you from crying
but everyone knows
a hot fudge sundae
speaks louder than words
Ivan, your poem brought a sigh of contentment that you understand the really important things in life.
Thank you!
Jean