The Hearts of men

They seem invincible from the outside, as if nought will affect them. Dependable, strong willed, able to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, like Atlas, but are they really so strong?

behind that almost impenetrable armour lies a soft beating heart, delicate as a lotus petal.

I never realised how much my father meant to me till I learned of his hospitalisation. Call me heartless but while at home his illness was nothing more than a break from his strong presence.
He is no self-effacing man, his emotions tend to affect us all, whether anger or joy, it permeates even the walls of the house.
I just wish I could be as close to him as my sister so effortlessly is. I suppose we are far too fiery in our nature to be able to stand one another for too long. Yet he is the one who understands me the most, not my mother as I thought for so long. She has too many expectations, while he although has those expectations is willing to suppress them to see how far the seed will travel before it flourishes.

My father the fiery iron-man has a soft heart beating within that rusting cage. A heart filled with dreams which shall never be.

Men are funny creatures. One expects them to be tough and realistic, yet a part of them is filled with romance that would make Mills and Boons blush scarlet. They hide dreams of love everlasting, yet write soppy poetry overbrimming with fairytale endings.

Oh Lord of My heart protect their soft hearts and guard their dreams from harm and heart brake.