Period Piece

we share

a blood line 

pain tainted rags and napkins

hushed conversations from the cane field to the classroom

that time of the month 

connects us

that early warning bloated feeling 

yes the mood swings irritate me but not as much as your casual taunts!!

oh lord the zit!  

the embarrasment of a blood stained dress   

forced to scrub, scrub, scrub away

the woman I have become 

I peel away the labels

unclean

untouched

unspoken

To say

bring me the information so you can understand 

My cycle

remove the pink tax

so i don't have to choose a rag over flimsy pads 

so that i can go to school, work, play sports, swim

affirmed

build us the red tent we deserve feed us the food we need so we are not anaemic

ask me about

My choice 

My needs

My cycle

is an inter-generational bloodline 

I share with my fore'mothers

I pass on to my daughter 

So that our sons will 

be better men.