I made you with this blood

I made you with this blood

Wrapped in fullness of my muliebrity

I rush hiding it

from the glances

that would be petrified

If they saw what I carry hidden

rolled up in a newspaper

I walked like a samurai

My son caught me red handed one day, literally !

‘what is that you carry in your hand mama?’

wrapped in a newspaper

came out my best spoken lies

‘Oh it is trash my dear, some old papers that I wish to discard!’

The transit from the loo to the dustbin

were as silent as the leopards walk

The fear of being spotted

always played on my mind

And so long, I have hidden this from you

But no longer, not this time 

It is time you knew..

You being a big boy now

right in your teens

hijacked by your hormones

that walk through your genes

you are at the right age to know

what I have now to reveal 

It happened when I was 12, my son

on my school sports day

I was supposed to run in a race

but much to my dismay

my white skirt turned shades of pink

and then some deep red

I cried, yes I cried, could not run

I thought I was dead

This came as a shocker

no one told me about this

but why, not even my mom

post that day she sat me down

to explain the things

that made me frown

I was in despair , I prayed

I didn’t want this thing again

But it never stopped and came each month

You must take care – you must take care

Was all my mom sung !

Red now in the face breaking eye contact

He said ‘ Mom, I know all of this

I studied anatomy in my 9th class

why are you telling me all this ?’

You have girls around you in school

They go through the same story every month

Never laugh ~ never tease

If u spot someone stained

Instead be kind and ask if you can help her in any way

Shrugging his shoulder with doubts in his head

“You leak blood every month ! But why? Isn’t that gross”

I smiled and pulled his cheeks

I made you with this blood my boy

You and your brother in my womb

I nurtured you with this blood of mine

So you could be born and bloom

“Is it painful mama, these 3-4 days ?

How do you handle work with so much grace ?”

Happy to see his concern in such a sweet way

I told him it’s a part of me and nothing to be ashamed

I am proud to be a women

who can endure every pain

We are the sole creators

of this so called human race

Always respect a women

Whatever the case

He nodded and hopefully understood

The lesson for the day

My son now hopefully understands

The importance of mensuration 

Hope he grows sensitive as he matures

he will know-what women endure..

 

Preeti S.Manaktala