man- n. adult male person, as distinguished from a boy or a woman
distinguish- v. to separate into kinds, classes, or categories
separate- v. to set or keep apart
apart- adv. exclude from consideration
exclude- v. to prevent or restrict the entrance of
restrict- v. to confine within bounds
confine- n. something (as borders or walls) that encloses; something that restrains
enclose- v. to hold in
hold- v. to have possession or ownership of or have at one’s disposal
disposal- n. systematic destruction

I am a man
distinguished by my features
yet separated because the pigment of my skin.

Set apart, alienated by my gender
excluded from my right of passage,
my induction ceremony into the congregation.

Restricted from my rights
and confined by their opposition.
Enclosed in an envelope,

signed in psychological chains,
and sealed shut
held together by adhesive loathing

hand delivered by the “man” himself.
Existing merely for their entertainment
and thrown away at their disposal.

By definition I am a man
biologically crafted as a man
brought into this world like any other man;

but treated like an animal
of an unknown species
worthless, ignorant, uncultured.

Like dominoes falling
knocking down one after another;
a chain reaction,

their stupidity becomes my self empathy
which formulates excuses
that turn into an addiction

and fuels my infidelity.
My circumstances may have shaped my actions,
and ultimately altered my future;

but I am still a man.