Henry Olunga Reads Susan Jarvis Bryant’s Poem on Toxic Masculinity The Society March 24, 2022 Culture, Poetry, Readings 20 Comments . Our Worthy Sons dedicated to Samuel by Susan Jarvis Bryant Our worthy sons should never be ashamedOf who they are and who they’re meant to be.For far too long men’s gender has been blamedIn wars that weaponize identity. To hell with toxic masculinity—That noxious term indelibly ingrainedIn minds so duped and blind they fail to seeOur worthy sons should never be ashamed. No baby boy is born to be constrainedBy chromosomes or nationality.No baby boy is born to be defamedFor who he is and who he’s meant to be. Dividers hex and vex societyTill patriarchy’s name is trashed and stainedBy twisted takes on inequality—For far too long men’s gender has been blamed. Our worthy sons are slammed and damned and framedFor heinous acts in long-gone history.They’re criticized and demonized and maimedIn wars that weaponize identity. Woke, factious terms like male supremacy(Designed to geld the gallant) have inflamedThis mother’s ire to fight vile misandry—To stand up and to shoot down hatred aimedAt worthy sons. . . NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. CODEC Stories:Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) 20 Responses Susan Jarvis Bryant March 24, 2022 I wrote this poem in honor of my son, Samuel. It’s his birthday today and to know this poem is reaching other young men is wonderful. It’s the icing on the birthday cake! ❤️ Reply Russel Winick March 24, 2022 Very worthy subject, flavored with your usual flair. Samuel is one very lucky young man. I trust he’s fully aware of that. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Thank you very much Russel – especially on the Samuel front… he knows. 🙂 Henry April 2, 2022 It’s really an inspirational poem. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant April 2, 2022 Thank you very much, Henry. A lot of worthy men get a bad rap these days… I wanted to sing their praises… a rare thing in these divisive days. Thank you for your beautiful reading on YouTube. I really appreciate you dropping by and commenting. Sally Cook March 24, 2022 Sussan, I love the way you play with words! Poetry is fun always – even when it is somber. Can you imagine how much fun Shakespeare must have had? Chaucer, Wordsworth and all the others” Here’s hoping you are hoping you are having just as much — me, too. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Dear Sally, words are my passion, and I cannot help but revel in their rapture. They sing to me constantly and lavish me with their attention… I cannot help but embrace them and join them in a linguistic lambada. I never suffer for my art… only in the comments section of political poems. 😉 Reply Mike Bryant March 24, 2022 A beautiful poem that absolutely screams the truth. And truth is evident to any thinking person anywhere as Henry has demonstrated. Can Africa pull American idiocy back from the brink of insanity? Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Thank you, biggest fan! You’re right on the “brink of insanity” front… ever the optimist, I’m still full of hope. Reply David Watt March 25, 2022 Your poem is a fine birthday present for Samuel, and also provides a gift of support for the battered male identity. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Thank you very much, David. I’ve come to learn the powers that be thrive by dividing us on every level… if we allow them to do so. Reply Brian Yapko March 25, 2022 Susan, I very much enjoyed this poem and the presentation. Your son is very lucky to be honored by his mother’s splendid poetic gift – a poem which is timely and spot-on in its message condemning the baseless condemnations of normal male behavior. In my humble view, it’s men like Lia Thomas who are truly toxic by trespassing and doing so with a poisonous level of entitlement. But to me your most important point is being “slammed and damned and framed/For heinous acts in long-gone history” which, of course, has great resonance in the realm of masculine behavior, but also in other contexts such as having white people today somehow be held corporately responsible for slavery 160 years ago (ignoring the majority who fought the civil war to end slavery, and the rest of us whose ancestors didn’t even arrive in the U.S. until the 20th Century.) On the subject of form, this is a rondeau redoublé and it’s drafted with your customary flare and brilliant use of prosody. Your use of internal rhyme never fails to amaze me. But what is particularly interesting about this poem is that you have introduced some almost-rhymes along with unexpected variations in the repetends. When Susan Bryant writes a poem absolutely nothing is random so I believe we’re meant to ponder these slight deviations from strict form and interpret the poet’s intention. In my view, you have introduced variation as a structural emphasis on how important it is to not be artificially and inorganically constrained, whether by chromosomes or nationality or fixed forms. I think it’s very clever way of supporting your brave and rational discussion of outrageous woke attitudes. Very well done indeed! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Brian, thank you very much for your wonderful comment – I appreciate how closely you read and interpret my work… it makes my efforts thoroughly worthwhile. The point you make about Lia Thomas is so true. I know there are truly toxic males out there (just as there are females) and Thomas is a prime example. That’s why I had to be so careful with this poem. The words were extra important on this one – the word “worthy” being the most significant. I certainly don’t condone unworthy, dishonorable, and undeserving behavior. Well done on spotting those “slight deviations”. This is one of those poems in which meaning was more important than form, much more important. I have my own personal rules when it comes to composing a poem. When I feel it necessary to break with poetic protocol and tread the unorthodox path… I will. Brian, your support is invaluable, and I thank you for it. Reply Paul Freeman March 25, 2022 Henry Olonga! Wow! I met him a couple of times at Jumbo County Club (we even had a half-hearted game of squash, him being a professional sportsman), on Mazowe Mine, where I worked in Zimbabwe. His mother was the sister at the clinic. A man of principle, he gave up an international cricketing career standing up to the Mugabe regime. Unfortunately, in Zimbabwe, I heard the oft parroted mantra, usually from women, that if your husband doesn’t beat you, he doesn’t love you. Whether that’s culture or toxicity, I don’t know. Reply Paul Freeman March 25, 2022 Whoops! Wrong Olonga / Olunga. But an interesting aside, I think you’ll agree. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Wow Paul, this is an interesting aside. I happen to think a husband who beats his wife is a toxic male, regardless of culture. I also happen to think a biological male who identifies as a female who beats his biologically female opponent in the swimming pool is a toxic male. Maybe our cultures aren’t so far removed. Reply James Sale March 25, 2022 Your usual wit, verbal dexterity and punchy lines make this another fine poem; it’s time we had the SJB collection so that we can discontinue scrolling through the SCP webpages and just read the book! Good idea to get Henry reading as well. Well done. PS I think I also left a comment on your cosmetic poems, but on the Sparks of C page! Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 James, I am thrilled to announce, I am writing my very first poetry book… I hope to have it finished soon! I have you and the SCP to thank for inspiring me to do so – the lessons I have learned and the fun I have had just being a part of this site are invaluable. As for Henry, Mike just came across him reading my poem on YouTube and thought it might be interesting to share. This very same poem was published here in 2020. The comments thread is most interesting – here it is for anyone interested in what people had to say about toxic masculinity back then. https://classicalpoets.org/2020/09/28/a-poem-on-toxic-masculinity-our-worthy-sons-by-susan-jarvis-bryant/#/ The SCP’s influence reaches far and wide. Thank you, James. Reply Jeff Eardley March 25, 2022 Susan, your Samuel is a very lucky guy and full marks to Henry. Your poetry should be broadcast far and wide…the world is waiting. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Jeff, thank you very much for your continued appreciation and your support. I’m smiling. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 24, 2022 I wrote this poem in honor of my son, Samuel. It’s his birthday today and to know this poem is reaching other young men is wonderful. It’s the icing on the birthday cake! ❤️ Reply
Russel Winick March 24, 2022 Very worthy subject, flavored with your usual flair. Samuel is one very lucky young man. I trust he’s fully aware of that. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Thank you very much Russel – especially on the Samuel front… he knows. 🙂
Susan Jarvis Bryant April 2, 2022 Thank you very much, Henry. A lot of worthy men get a bad rap these days… I wanted to sing their praises… a rare thing in these divisive days. Thank you for your beautiful reading on YouTube. I really appreciate you dropping by and commenting.
Sally Cook March 24, 2022 Sussan, I love the way you play with words! Poetry is fun always – even when it is somber. Can you imagine how much fun Shakespeare must have had? Chaucer, Wordsworth and all the others” Here’s hoping you are hoping you are having just as much — me, too. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Dear Sally, words are my passion, and I cannot help but revel in their rapture. They sing to me constantly and lavish me with their attention… I cannot help but embrace them and join them in a linguistic lambada. I never suffer for my art… only in the comments section of political poems. 😉 Reply
Mike Bryant March 24, 2022 A beautiful poem that absolutely screams the truth. And truth is evident to any thinking person anywhere as Henry has demonstrated. Can Africa pull American idiocy back from the brink of insanity? Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Thank you, biggest fan! You’re right on the “brink of insanity” front… ever the optimist, I’m still full of hope. Reply
David Watt March 25, 2022 Your poem is a fine birthday present for Samuel, and also provides a gift of support for the battered male identity. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Thank you very much, David. I’ve come to learn the powers that be thrive by dividing us on every level… if we allow them to do so. Reply
Brian Yapko March 25, 2022 Susan, I very much enjoyed this poem and the presentation. Your son is very lucky to be honored by his mother’s splendid poetic gift – a poem which is timely and spot-on in its message condemning the baseless condemnations of normal male behavior. In my humble view, it’s men like Lia Thomas who are truly toxic by trespassing and doing so with a poisonous level of entitlement. But to me your most important point is being “slammed and damned and framed/For heinous acts in long-gone history” which, of course, has great resonance in the realm of masculine behavior, but also in other contexts such as having white people today somehow be held corporately responsible for slavery 160 years ago (ignoring the majority who fought the civil war to end slavery, and the rest of us whose ancestors didn’t even arrive in the U.S. until the 20th Century.) On the subject of form, this is a rondeau redoublé and it’s drafted with your customary flare and brilliant use of prosody. Your use of internal rhyme never fails to amaze me. But what is particularly interesting about this poem is that you have introduced some almost-rhymes along with unexpected variations in the repetends. When Susan Bryant writes a poem absolutely nothing is random so I believe we’re meant to ponder these slight deviations from strict form and interpret the poet’s intention. In my view, you have introduced variation as a structural emphasis on how important it is to not be artificially and inorganically constrained, whether by chromosomes or nationality or fixed forms. I think it’s very clever way of supporting your brave and rational discussion of outrageous woke attitudes. Very well done indeed! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Brian, thank you very much for your wonderful comment – I appreciate how closely you read and interpret my work… it makes my efforts thoroughly worthwhile. The point you make about Lia Thomas is so true. I know there are truly toxic males out there (just as there are females) and Thomas is a prime example. That’s why I had to be so careful with this poem. The words were extra important on this one – the word “worthy” being the most significant. I certainly don’t condone unworthy, dishonorable, and undeserving behavior. Well done on spotting those “slight deviations”. This is one of those poems in which meaning was more important than form, much more important. I have my own personal rules when it comes to composing a poem. When I feel it necessary to break with poetic protocol and tread the unorthodox path… I will. Brian, your support is invaluable, and I thank you for it. Reply
Paul Freeman March 25, 2022 Henry Olonga! Wow! I met him a couple of times at Jumbo County Club (we even had a half-hearted game of squash, him being a professional sportsman), on Mazowe Mine, where I worked in Zimbabwe. His mother was the sister at the clinic. A man of principle, he gave up an international cricketing career standing up to the Mugabe regime. Unfortunately, in Zimbabwe, I heard the oft parroted mantra, usually from women, that if your husband doesn’t beat you, he doesn’t love you. Whether that’s culture or toxicity, I don’t know. Reply
Paul Freeman March 25, 2022 Whoops! Wrong Olonga / Olunga. But an interesting aside, I think you’ll agree. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Wow Paul, this is an interesting aside. I happen to think a husband who beats his wife is a toxic male, regardless of culture. I also happen to think a biological male who identifies as a female who beats his biologically female opponent in the swimming pool is a toxic male. Maybe our cultures aren’t so far removed. Reply
James Sale March 25, 2022 Your usual wit, verbal dexterity and punchy lines make this another fine poem; it’s time we had the SJB collection so that we can discontinue scrolling through the SCP webpages and just read the book! Good idea to get Henry reading as well. Well done. PS I think I also left a comment on your cosmetic poems, but on the Sparks of C page! Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 James, I am thrilled to announce, I am writing my very first poetry book… I hope to have it finished soon! I have you and the SCP to thank for inspiring me to do so – the lessons I have learned and the fun I have had just being a part of this site are invaluable. As for Henry, Mike just came across him reading my poem on YouTube and thought it might be interesting to share. This very same poem was published here in 2020. The comments thread is most interesting – here it is for anyone interested in what people had to say about toxic masculinity back then. https://classicalpoets.org/2020/09/28/a-poem-on-toxic-masculinity-our-worthy-sons-by-susan-jarvis-bryant/#/ The SCP’s influence reaches far and wide. Thank you, James. Reply
Jeff Eardley March 25, 2022 Susan, your Samuel is a very lucky guy and full marks to Henry. Your poetry should be broadcast far and wide…the world is waiting. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 26, 2022 Jeff, thank you very much for your continued appreciation and your support. I’m smiling. Reply
