Dear Editor

AS an Informanté reader, a father and a male I wish to convey an artistic message to my fellow men through the following selected poem.

In most instances men are the cause of violence
Utterly leaving women and children
at greater risk for their livelihood

Because Paulus is the Father of the toddler
he’s left alone while mommy went shopping
coming home she witnesses a mourning crowd
because the “trusted” daddy
mercilessly raped and brutally killed his daughter

Men are the cause of poverty in most families
we lavishly squander the monthly pay,
at shebeens with extra - girlfriends
on drugs and alcohol credit
while house bills and school fees remain unpaid
forcing the entire family out of the common home
where innocent children become street kids
and caring mothers as sex workers

and most men are the cause of distrust
we talk responsibly and act irresponsibly
when we are blamed or positively criticized for our
actions
we do the real talking with our fists
then for assault, remain locked up behind bars forever

By John Dewaldt