In shadows deep, where silence reigns,
A man is taught to hide his pains,
To wear a mask, to never weep,
In toxic chains, his heart does keep.

He learns to harden, to be strong,
In stoic silence, right or wrong,
Suppressing tears, emotions caged,
A lonely battle, self-enraged.

Beneath the surface, fears reside,
A fragile soul, a wounded pride,
Yet in the dark, he cannot show,
The softer side he longs to know.

But courage calls to break the mold,
To cast aside the lies he’s told,
Embrace the tears, the joy, the pain,
And in this truth, his freedom gain.