Tough Guys

Some ‘tough guys’ bench-press 400lbs

…and polish their biceps and six-packs

With baby oil

Some ‘tough guys’ rope bulls

Ride bucking broncos

While wearing large leather Stetson hats

Some ‘tough guys’ lie in trenches

Some dig them

And some fly F-22 Raptors over them

Some ‘tough guys’

Keep us safe

With a gun on their hip

And the law on their side

Some ‘tough guys’

Open people’s chests

And fix their hearts

…but the toughest of them all

Folds her fragile hands

over leather-bound Hope

and prays…

for her own child

and other mother's children

whoever and

wherever

they are

© Janet Martin