Poetry by Daragh Fleming

'If I ever have girls' by Daragh Fleming
 
If I ever have girls, 
they’ll be feared by weak men. 
But to everyone else they’ll be 
a consistent friend. 
They’ll never lack meaning. 
They’ll be gentle and kind, 
While breaking every glass ceiling.
They’ll take up space, 
And they’ll like what they like. 
They won’t be taught to reduce 
themselves or hide.
My girls will be feared by weak men.
They’ll demand respect because they
deserve it. 
They will always know love, 
Never feel they have to earn it. 
They’ll know their value is inherent, 
Nothing to do with their looks. 
They will be leaders, be healers, right 
wrongs, write books. 
They’ll be mothers one day if they so 
choose, but their value won’t be defined by 
the use of their wombs. 
They will be whatever lives in their 
hearts, 
And they will know dreams are there
to be chased from the start. 
My girls will know poetry and song,
And know I will listen when 
something feels wrong.
They’ll learn that ‘women are too emotional’ 
is an original lie, 
And they will not grow up with a 
father who refuses to cry. 
Yeah, my girls will make some weak
men shake in their knees. 
They won’t be the women society expects 
They’ll be the women society needs. 

Link: to listen to Daragh perform his poem



'If I ever have boys' 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 be the one society meant.

Link: to listen to Daragh perform his poem