Poem of the Year

By OBHS | Posted: Wednesday February 4, 2026

Each year, our Rector, Mr Hall, chooses a “Poem of the Year” A piece of writing that reflects values, ideas, or themes he believes will resonate with students. For 2026, his selection is If I Have Boys They’ll Be Dangerous by Irish poet Daragh Fleming.

If I ever have boys

If I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men

They’ll smile at dogs and children and be a tonic to friends

They’ll send flowers to their mother just because and they’ll be a shoulder for many when the world is too much

My boys will know that vulnerability is strength

They won’t bottle anger, they’ll learn how to express

They won’t let pride be the reason they hide, wearing masks while they’re hurting inside

My boys will be dangerous men

They won’t stay silent even when it’s uncomfortable for them

They’ll learn that their actions are more effective than words but they’ll use their voices to amplify the unheard

They’ll know that love isn’t something to perform

They’ll see beauty in all of its forms

My boys won’t grow learning to emotionally hide

They’ll reshape masculinity into something they like, make it softer to touch

They’ll know that who they are is more than enough

They’ll know that being a man doesn’t mean carrying the burden alone

They’ll learn that an emotional man is a man fully grown

They won’t settle everything with violent swings

They’ll live in truth even when that truth stings

So yeah, if I ever have boys they’ll be dangerous men

but the danger they’ll be won’t the one society meant

A poem by Daragh Fleming