My family is mostly male, and yet
includes no evidence of gross assault
or rape, or coarse behavior to forget.
What tension we perpetuate’s the fault
of neither sex. The girls exhibit more
bad moods, more snits and flouncing tendencies.
The boys are strong and masculine for sure
(and handsome too), but gentle as we please.

I read of brutes sometimes and know the plots
of movies, books, and news, but all the men
we launch are fair in attitude and mind.
I’m sorry that our culture’s filled with clots
of misbehavior, wondering again
how one could raise a beast from sweet mankind.