There’s a statue in Vigeland Park here in Oslo. It’s right at the front as you walk up to the monolith. It’s of two men. One is crouched over, doubled in pain and the other is stood behind him lifting him up. I love this statue. I think we need more examples of this type of friendship, the type of friendship where you aren’t afraid to express affection. We all need this, but men in particular, I think, need access to this type of love.
This is Men.
All the world's pain had risen To push against the insides of his face Fear shone through his eyes A dull light in murky waters So I held my brother On that night When there was more beer between us than words And the only life to leave our lips was breath lined with stale smoke There was nothing left to do But hold my brother As he wept into the acrid night I traced the outline of this sobbing beast Cupping his own face A dam to keep the shame inside And so, like a man, I held him As he dropped down to his knees I rolled my body over his A mould for empty form To shield him from the cold glare of the moon Hold the boy fast from her gravity Like a man, I picked him up before his mast went down The love between us thick, I loved him more Understanding how the boy was gripped in private war Caught in limbo Between the lights of days I held my friend ‘til dawn