I am always touched when I see a man that is confident enough to show an open release to his emotions by the shedding of tears. Too many times, mothers teach their sons, not to cry, if they want to be a "big boy". I don't know if this is the reason that boys grow up to be men that hold back their tears, or if it is our culture in general that teaches this. I have learned, though, that there is a healing process that starts within an individual when they give themselves permission to cry out all the hurt and pain; to be angry at the cause of it, and then to release both the hurt and anger, and continue in the healing process until one has become whole again, having acquired wisdom from experience.

Who can count the tears that a grown man cries
Alone in sleepless nights in the shelter of his own abode
Safe in knowing that the evident display of emotion
Can not be seen by those that would think him less than a man
Safe from the possible rejection of those that may be in
Authority over him and would count it all
Weakness against him , had they but known.
Who can count the tears that a man never sheds
But are held back in that safe part of himself
That he trusts more than anyone or anything
Never releasing but always keeping
Guard on the hurt and the pain that he feels
From a heart that is broken too many times to count.
From disappointments that are derived not only
From himself and his failed attempts at succeeding
In those things that matter to no one but himself,
Those things that would cause him to rejoice in feelings of self worth,
But also disappointments from those in whom he had placed
His trust and total confidence. From those to whom he had
Given his heart, unabashedly and unashamed;
And from those same ones, had received the ultimate treason.
Betrayal. Bitter betrayal. Beyond which there can never
Be a turning back, nor a mending of ways.
Only the stark realization that his days and nights
Will never be the same, and will always remain
Cold, alone, and full of agony, suffering and pain.
Who can count those unshed tears of a man?