SHE: Poem 10 – “she orders me about” (circa ’85)
she orders me to carry
her Trapper Keeper down the hall,
to keep my neon Reebok laces
hidden at the mall.
she orders me to stand behind
the yellow line at the bus stop,
no leaning, no humming
my boombox’s latest pop.
she orders me to dial her
payphone at the arcade’s back wall,
then scolds me when the coins
clink too soft or stall.
she orders me to let her
board first on the rattling train,
to grip her Walkman,
to never complain.
she orders me to fetch
her Slurpee in grape—
no cherry swirl— and holds
my hand like
I’m her awkward pearl.
everywhere I go—school desks,
food courts, station seats—
I’m just her neon puppet,
dancing to her beats.
.
.
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Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: March 17th, 2026 06:00
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 11
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange
- In collections: delayed telecast.
Offline)
Comments6
A poem full of a male trapped in the paradoxes of society expectations solidified in taking orders when the male role is to lead and order but also be protective and defer to females. Choosing a follow orders from one esteemed confirms the enigma of power given to the damsel by the knight. Who is ordering and who is in control and who deferring plays out in this poem that seems only one sided. Well done Cryptic.
A very clearly expounded phenomenon in the film “A Knight’s Tale” 🕊️🙏🏻
That makes sense
Some girls expend more energy "ordering" guys around than if they just did some of those things themselves. And then they stress themselves out because you haven`t done the job exactly how they wanted! Oh well....
It seems to be an age old dynamic 😂🙏🏻🕊️
My friend, this brings me back to those kinds of dynamics we don’t always name at the time…where something feels off but you just go along with it. The way it carries through to “I’m just her neon puppet, / dancing to her beats.”…that recognition hits. I felt this one. Excellent poem and a blast from the past, too! 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Those were the days indeed, thanks, Tittu 🕊️🙏🏻
RIght?!?! For sure! Most welcome, Rik.
Any rewards?
Good words Rik, maybe one day she will listen to you. LOL
Andy
Glad to see you are not one of them guys who puts their foot down with a firm hand .. Neville 😎👍
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