He puts his hand on his heart
instead of taking yours in his
or offering you his own
If that bothers you then
clearly the only norm
that you have ever known
is palm pressing
and back slapping
everyone you meet
How arbitrary that you see a handshake
as such a crucial way to greet
someone
when there are countless ways to be respectful and polite
There is never one single right
way
to do most anything
He puts his hand on his heart
instead of taking yours in his
or offering you his own
It is not because he thinks you are
germ-ridden
unworthy
dirty
impure
a thing to be hidden
away
and covered up
a source of shame
or simply not enough
He puts his hand on his heart
He respects your body and personal space
Touch is something sacred
and intimate
and linked to very specific kinds of commitment
in the spaces and places where he was raised
educated
and
socialised
How utterly surprised
I have always been and still am
that certain females to this day
associate the opposite sex’s primal
“need”
to constantly eye
them up like a piece of meat
or grope them repeatedly
with their own sense of self-worth
and their own desireability
Just imagine a world
where men
respected women
for their minds
souls and hearts
Physicality and touch being part
of the uniquely
deep and meaningful process of getting to know a woman
inside and out
I sense your sense of doubt
It sounds too good to be true
but it’s happening all around you
This is his way
This is their culture
Instead of hovering around women like a vulture
he puts his hand on his heart
instead of taking yours in his
or offering you his own
On his heart
Not both hands in his back pockets
Not arms folded dismissively across his chest
No fake smiles in jest
He shows you respect
Acknowledges your person
your individual qualities
aura
and personality
your intelligence
intellect
education
and abilities
Your voice
your opinions
your experience
and insecurities
He puts his hand on his heart
Listen to his heart
and your own
Look
Listen
Please do
Try to see and hear him
as he tries to see and hear you
AN FRAOCH 