16 Comments
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George Kalantzis's avatar

This one hits —My hand tried so hard to break, but I wouldn’t allow it.

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Mirsha Wilson's avatar

This came up in my morning scanning.

This, after a weekend working in a sick, underfunded hospital.

I sped through your writing then stopped.

“This is worth savouring”.

Back to the top.

This soulful writing which reflects the sadness we are all feeling because the world is run by dickheads.

This, after I quit my job to repair myself.

This.

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QuYahni B Joseph's avatar

💙💙💙

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Roman Newell's avatar

That means a lot to me. Thank you for taking the time to let me know it means something to you as well.

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Julia Perrodin's avatar

This makes me wonder if the men in my life are lonely in the constant expectation for them to fix and provide and… do. Everyone knows much is expected of women, too, but we are allowed to talk about it. I always thought my dad as the primary disciplinarian in our household must be feeling left out because he always had something to do and enforce, and the moment for tenderness with his children was so rare. I know we missed out. But so did he. So did most fathers, I presume. And I think I feel sorriest for that most of the time. I just see him with that look on his face when the whole world seemed to be resting on his shoulders and he coped with a beer in his hand instead of pulling a buddy aside…

I’m glad your hands made it all the way here. I’ve told you before, but your work is making me a better, more empathetic person with more insight than I realized I needed… sure wish I could hug your neck for this one, Roman.

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QuYahni B Joseph's avatar

Couldn’t have said it better. This is how my thinking has always been, sometimes to a fault in that I often enabled my own abuse in trying to avail myself as a safe space for men to just be and not worry or fix or give or be silent — somehow I knew that much of what they did that hurt came from those places. So many demands and not enough permission.

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C.S. Mee's avatar

Sent this to my uncle who can’t visit his 95 year old mother unless there’s something that needs fixing

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Joan Spilman's avatar

There you go, being brilliant again.

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Christian Näthler's avatar

What's different is new grasses are seeded and the quantity of things living 🖤

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Joan Spilman's avatar

"Something will break, I will fix it and no one will notice..."

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Roman Newell's avatar

Gooooooood morning!

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Bob Graham's avatar

Really enjoyed this one, Roman. Felt it deep. Fighting back against the perpetual decay.

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Rea de Miranda's avatar

This is true, Roman. We expect men to fix everything. A bit unfair as well.

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hgb 🪖's avatar

This is genius.

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Etya Krichmar's avatar

Beautiful imagery and profound meaning. Thank you for your service.

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Leroy Jenkins's avatar

do all that but smoke a j before.

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