He went on doing what he did
Without break
Except the ones he took to eat and sleep
with nagging intensified
in the background
and sometimes wander aimlessly in bars
that sold cheap booze
where he could backslap his chums
and swear freely
no bulging disapproving eyes there
to judge him

His mornings were heavy with the burden of expectations
and with the little he could fulfil
during the day
didn’t turn them light
his evenings
not his fault as no human can
satisfy expectations of superior beings
one could if they were expressed explicitly
but then a man has to understand
and that is nonnegotiable

He himself hardly has any expectations
at least from others
not in any moments of weakness
nor pleasure
nor in any recurring manner
for he knows they will unfailingly lead
towards disappointments
and though he’s used facing them
it rankles him at being reminded
of his middle name
Disappointment

What he sincerely asks for
Is for a bit of silence
at least when nature has fallen silent
under the cloak of darkness
needs to drown out all the voices
that blame and demand
and claim and withhold
not a big ask, if one sincerely thinks
even prisoners are provided with it

Though the ones reviling him
for being a man
won’t ever stop
and he very well knows that