Once a month
Once a month, on my undies I see
A familiar pink that gets red and heavy
Once a month I restock my cotton pads
And I am reminded nothing lasts
Once a month, you catch me sneak the pad out of the bag
And I worry you found out that I too bleed just like that
Once a month I tell you it’s just the stomach flu
Although we both knew you knew
One time the blood sneaked to your sheets
And covered with shame I cleaned and cleaned
Once a year I slip and admit I am bleeding
You shrug and pretend you did not hear me
Once a year I regret the sorrys I said right after “I am on my period”
Yet I still cry the pain of women who were deemed inferior
Once a year I want to scream at you:
“my blood is holier than the blood of your wars”
“ This blood was turned into a human your mother bore”
One day, I want you to turn your face my way and see
That my bleeding is you, me and all of eternity
One day I want to bleed loudly
And live a life of no apology
One day I want you to bleed loudly
And admit that you were afraid, and you are sorry
