This poem was written in 2016 about an unwanted “discussion” (for lack of a better word) that I got pulled into online. I had retweeted something that was both political and about women’s access to health care.
Somehow, this was enough to inspire a guy whom I only vaguely knew to flood my Twitter feed with angry, “mansplaining” comments. I’m quite certain that other women have had the same, draining, frustrating experience that I did.
I read this poem in episode 8 of Words of Jen. (The photo above comes from StockSnap.io).
“So, that’s what I think about that,” she opined,
Before hitting return, and posting online,
Her viewpoint on an article (connected with a link).
She moved on to finish her plans of the day
Until a man appeared who just must have his say
Desperate to let her know, “That isn’t how all men think.”
“Did you read the article?” she queried him.
“It mentioned three dudes. My comment’s about them.”
She pointed out the context he seemed unable to find.
She hoped this “discussion” was now at its end.
She barely knew this man – he wasn’t a friend.
Shaken by the raging anger spewing from his troubled mind.
She thought, “If I ignore him, he’ll go away”.
It wasn’t the first time he’d yelled at her this way.
She felt his online tantrums were tedious and draining.
“That’s not what you said before,” he insisted.
Chewing up her words; spitting them out twisted.
There was no end in sight of his complaining.
Her words were posted where everyone could see
He attempted to reshape reality
Gaslighting, redefining and manipulating words
She said, “You simply aren’t listening. We’re done.”
“And your mansplaining does not mean you have won.”
“But, I was just explaining….” he responded back – of course.
But I Was Just Explaining… is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites.
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