What About the Men?

By Phyllis Wax

A new drug for menopause
is being hailed as a godsend
for a condition many women endure
in silence. Thing is,
it costs $550 a month.

And, unfortunately, hot flashes (hot flashes!)
are among the most common side effects.
They say it could also be toxic to the liver
or affect the kidneys,
and who knows what it will do
to heart, bones, sex drive, mood or weight.
Still, how wonderful this drug could be.

But why focus only on menopause? And women?
What about the mood swings, eruptions of anger,
the gun-toting rampages afflicting so many men?
Could this be undiagnosed testosterone poisoning?
When will Big Pharma turn its attention
to this as yet unrecognized condition?

Think of it—if medicine can help these men,
not only will their lives be better,
it’ll be the end of
mass shootings, murder
and domestic abuse.

Help women, yes.
But let’s hear it for equal treatment for men.

Poet Phyllis Wax writes in Milwaukee on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Social issues are a major focus, but she is also inspired by nature and human nature. Among the anthologies and journals in which her poetry has appeared are Feral, The Widows’ Handbook, Writers Resist, Jerry Jazz Musician, Rise Up Review, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, Peacock Journal, Wordpeace, New Verse News, Portside, and Your Daily Poem. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, the Best of the Net, and Bettering American Poetry anthologies.

Image credit: “Mr. Goodbar,” 2007, by Rinaldo Frattolillo, under “Fair Use” for commentary.

A note from Writers Resist

Thank you for reading! If you appreciate creative resistance and would like to support it, you can make a small, medium or large donation to Writers Resist from our Give a Sawbuck page.