Manhood

Bring me something, when you come.

Bring me an essential gift,

your presence, your power,

your deep curiosity.

Do not seek to sink into me

your fears and your woes,

though I am capable

of transmuting them to joy

on your behalf.

Do not bury in me

your insecurity and your weakness,

hiding from plain sight

what we both know to be true:

you are vulnerable,

you have need.

Stand in that, bring it openly.

Be alone in it. Then,

hold it up to the light

so that when I open

and my darkness enfolds you,

your body becomes a lamp

flooding the corners of my heart

with warm illumination.