a blue book and a water gun

Dear Rebecca,

When I read your book of essays
Men Explain Things to Me
I finally learned the lesson 
that had already been taught to me
many times

One time, at a fundraiser for solar energy
the drinks were flowing
and I was a grad student 
unclutching my drink tickets
twice

‘Liquid courage’ to explain
a few things about AC/DC
oh not the band
The different ways electricity is produced
and delivered

She called me out
You are mansplaining
Sorry I just meant that I —
No, stop, don’t justify your splain to me 
(her eyes said)

Some steam poured out of my ears then
Maybe they finally got unclogged
Then I went to the bar
to refill my esophagus
with the liquid

Hey give me a beer
The bartender pulled out her gun
to threaten me
no, save me
Water

You need this
I sure did, I took some sips
I wandered around aimlessly
Then I biked my false pride
to bed

Later, I was still licking my wounds
reading the blue book of essays...
It all makes sense now
Thanks, Rebecca.

++John