This is Episode 42 of Poems to Live Well By.

Today’s poem is "Praise of a Man", by Norman MacCaig

You can read the poem here.

Norman MacCaig was a Scottish poet whose life spanned most of the 20th century. He spent all his life in Scotland, first working as a primary school teacher before finishing his career in academia, teaching creative writing at the University of Edinburgh.

This poem, “In Praise of a Man”, is a eulogy to a dead friend. It’s much more than that too. It paints a picture of what a man can be, maybe what a man should be. In all the gender politics of the 21st century, the male role in society, in business, in the family has been reshaped and questioned. 

At heart, what should a man be? What should a man do? This poem, reflecting on the life of a man who has passed away, goes some way to answering those questions.

Music Credit:

Once Upon a Time by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/  | Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com