The Gallant Man

Is gallantry lost, or the word under used?
For now we feel less incline to choose
This term which does describe a man
As brave, and fearless, able to withstand

The dangers and foes that plague our lands
This aggressive trait takes center stand
Leaves little room for the Nobel to sit.
Not kings, nor Lords, or prize requisite

Not fighters, or doers in fields unmatched
But men who are ready to stand unabashed
As gentle, respectful, considerately deemed
Are these not the men of all women's dreams?

Comfortable with silence, yet able to speak up
When the need is presented to defend what he loves
With some knowledge of life, he's attentive, and clean
In mind and in heart, strong, with self-esteem.

Integrity he chooses, standing firm with his heart
Seeker of solutions, and justice, the mantra in his bark
The moral, protective and faithful counterpart
We moan of his absence, yet ridicule his path

To be what we want, yet a threat to our 'craft'
So many women go for the rough, rogue retard
Who's good looking, ill-mannered, a cool, slick upstart,
Aloof and quite selfish, seeing all females as tarts

Has modern ethos of woman completely denied
The men who is honest, steadfast and refined
Whose expressions, and moods and handsome face
Do not disturb my tranquillity, or leave me frustrate

But give me the freedom to be... well…just me
Progressing and growing, fulfilled and complete
He is peaceful with dignity and happy to wait
For the love he so desire to just give him a break

Stop eroding the qualities of these fine, valued men
With back handed quips that perceive him as fake.
That say he's not needed, required or even attained
Are we women alone happy, to take all of the strains?

We are able and ready to stand with our pride
And sometimes we have to, when 'love' takes a dive
As mothers and lovers, we manage lives and create
The places of safety, the keepers of pains

We play down the importance of men who might be
A guide, or a mentor, our supporter, our key
Unlocking deep emotions of passions, and dreams
And seeing our weaknesses, and not being pristine

The movies and media makes gallant men weak
If they're not blow up people, or full of mystique
Showing villains and criminals as hero's to boot
Who wins hearts when seen as "just misunderstood"

Brainwashing that leaves us as only to blame
When we realize its all just a Hollywood game
We think that true gallantry lives only in books
For the gallant man is real, if we care to just look.


Claudia Thomas Barber (June 2015)