Maturing the Male

[alfredo]

when you turn to me in desperation
and I to you in frustration.
when all you want is for me to listen
carefully, summarise and repeat
what you have said;
not merely to show I’ve understood
but rather because you want me
to "hold aloft the mirror"
so you can see yourself,
and the real problem

you say, this is first big step
to self healing.

that’s all you need from me?
really?

is it too late?

[wavemaker9 (Rick D.)]

Al, I'm confused by:

"so you can see yourself,
and the real problem -
- your first big step
to self healing."

It is hard to tell. Are you saying she is the real problem, then asking if its too late?

Rick

[dmtimney]

When you turn to me in desperation
and I to you in frustration.
When all you want is for me to listen
carefully, summarize then repeat
what you have said;
not merely to show I’ve understood
but rather because you want
me to handle the heavy lifting
hold aloft the mirror
so you can see yourself,
and the real problem -
- your first big step
to self healing.

That’s all
you need
from me?
Really?

I took the liberty of adding the one line that just popped into place in my head...this is a good write, Alfredo...right up my alley... I think it just needs the words trimmed, so when it's all said and done it would read like this...

You turn to me in desperation
I to you in frustration.
You want me to listen
carefully, summarize then repeat
what you have said;
not to show I've understood
but because you'd rather
I handle the heavy lifting,
hold the mirror aloft
so you can see yourself
and the real problem.

That's all
you need
from me?

Really?

[dmtimney]

Ok, me again...I almost forgot...I'd lose that last tiny question..I think it's distracting from the strength of the previous thought...and while the title's good..what would you think of Seven Years Bad Luck? Just a thought, so with it what you will.

[alfredo]

Now got a little time to respond …please don’t think I’m rude. No, the central idea was the need for males, in particular, to undertake more reflective listening instead of leaping to solve, in their “heroic” Martian way, as we often do.


PS
The imaginary problem is the female's but she anst merely to be listened to and so work it through herself