Machismo Fails

That oh fuck moment when she caught me crying
during X-Factor. Fat stupid tears about
some chav stranger's triumph over tragedy.
Sure, I had been trying to get in touch with
my emotions - like she wanted - but there are
limits, after all. Then I sat unsmiling
all through Ant and Dec while wondering just what
the hell was so funny - and so fucking sad
in the first place. Call it pathos or call it
pathetic. She called it 'sweet' and was amused
by my discomfort; though I earned no extra
points for sensitivity. There is nothing
sexy in sobbing at the television.
Machismo fails due to fear of derision.