A Man Made of Stone

“Be strong.”

“Don't cry.”

“Keep it inside.”

So I did.

Now I don't know

How to let it out.

I learned to swallow every tear

Before it reached my eyes

Turn every wound into a joke

And call the silence pride

They told me boys don't break

So I became a wall

I learned to carry everyone's weight

And never ask at all

I shake beneath the surface

But nobody can see

I've spent my whole life hiding

What is happening to me

I've got a thousand words

Trapped behind my teeth

And every time I try to speak

Something buries me

I'M A MAN MADE OF STONE!

WITH A HEART I NEVER SHOW!

I'VE BEEN DYING JUST TO SAY

THAT I'M NOT FUCKING OKAY!

I'VE GOT TEARS IN MY BLOOD

AND A SCREAM IN MY CHEST!

EVERYONE SAYS I'M STRONG

BUT I'M TIRED OF THE TEST!

I hug the people that I love

But never say the words

I'd rather break my own damn back

Than admit that I hurt

So I turn pain into anger

And loneliness into pride

I build another wall

Every time I want to cry

And when somebody asks me

“What the hell is wrong?”

I give them “Nothing”

Like I've been doing all along

But I'm not emotionless

I'm overflowing

I've just been taught

That showing it means I'm broken

I'M A MAN MADE OF STONE!

WITH A HEART I NEVER SHOW!

I'VE BEEN DYING JUST TO SAY

THAT I'M NOT FUCKING OKAY!

I'VE GOT TEARS IN MY BLOOD

AND A SCREAM IN MY CHEST!

EVERYONE SAYS I'M STRONG

BUT I'M TIRED OF THE TEST!

WHO TAUGHT ME

THAT A MAN CAN'T CRY?

WHO TAUGHT ME

TO HIDE EVERY FUCKING SIDE

OF MYSELF?

I'M NOT WEAK!

I'M HUMAN!

I'M HURT!

I'M SCARED!

AND I'M DONE

PRETENDING

THAT I DON'T CARE!

If I tell you that I miss you

Will you think I'm less of a man?

If I tell you that I'm hurting

Will you turn away your hands?

I've spent years trying to prove

That nothing can bring me down

But the strongest thing I've ever done

Is finally let the walls come down

I'M NOT MADE OF STONE!

I'VE GOT A HEART OF MY OWN!

AND I'M DONE HIDING EVERY FEELING

JUST TO PROVE THAT I AM STRONG!

LET THE TEARS FALL DOWN!

LET THE FUCKING WALLS COME DOWN!

I DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER SILENTLY

JUST TO WEAR A CROWN!

I CAN CRY!

I CAN BREAK!

I CAN SAY

WHEN I'M AFRAID!

I CAN LOVE!

I CAN HURT!

I CAN FINALLY

BE A PERSON!

I was never made of stone.

I was just afraid

to let anyone

see the cracks.