Cheers to 2025
January 5, 2025
Every New Year holds promise, as though it is any different from the turn of
“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history” Plato
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress and grows brave by reflection
If you are a man
You have not been broken
You have not failed
You have not been defeated
You have not been rejected
and you have not been humiliated
If you are a man
You do not learn
You do not read
You do not try new things
You do not stand for something
And you do not walk in the wilderness
If you are a man
They do not gossip about you
They do not slander you
They do not betray you
They do not conspire against you
They do not lie against you
And they do not abandon you
Then you are not a real man
Real men are full of scars,
They are alone,
They are hungry
And they are beautiful
Abidemi Adebola
Founder African Reading Project
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2 thoughts on “If You Are a Man”
Enjoyed it
It’s tough being a man honestly