A Good Man’s Struggles

A GOOD MAN’S STRUGGLES
King James

Good men
working themselves into fractures,
temptation knocking in patterns,
slots opening,
hands out—
looking for proof that affection is real.

Setups dressed as romance,
needles testing armor,
small holes punched
in a good man’s protection.

She don’t trust the face in the mirror,
but still asks it questions—
mirror, mirror on the wall,
will he call
before my phone goes silent?

Clothes come off quicker than plans get built,
futures drafted
on moments that don’t last.
Trying to raise something solid
from a rush that fades by morning.

She wants benefits without the burden,
wants the life without the climb.
Screens taught her easy looks better—
no assistance cards,
just channels, lights,
and someone else’s highlight reel.

She wants a good man to play fool,
to hold the weight
until he sees the strings.
Then it’s silence—
like the others who vanished
once the picture cleared.

Too many “not the one” stories to tell,
all with promise,
all almost.
Three names waiting in rotation,
contacts full—
a whole convention
of good men
hoping they’re different.

~ King James 👑