Gentle Giant

I take up more space than I 
Reasonably would like to in the world 
More space than I reasonably desire 
With my lumbering 
Six foot two frame 
And belly that bulges out 
Just past my jeans 
Stomping aroundIn my size 13s 
A Hummer of a human 

Sometimes it doesn’t even feel 
Like my body

Just this overgrown mechanism 
I have to employ to get around 
I can almost see 
A small version of myself 
Sitting at the control center 
Pulling levers 
Left foot, right foot 
Swinging arms in rhythm 

The first time I was called a gentle giant 
I don’t think I knew what that meant 
It was like a joke that went slightly 
Over my oversized head 

That somehow because of  
My exaggerated size I was expected 
To be more brutal, 
More forceful, 
I was predestined to 
Impose my will 
On others, 
That I would have a hunger 
For more than I reasonably required 

I take up more space 
Than I reasonably deserve 
With my pale skin, 
Masculine features 
That I don’t always relate to, 
My pension for a privilege 
I’ve never earned 
But daily benefit from 

And I wish I could be smaller 
Sometimes physically, sometimes philosophically, 
Culturally, socio-economically, 
But in the end all I can do 
Is the best I can 
With the space that is given me 
And try the best I can

To make space for others