"Menstruation," poem by Peggy Lee Prince, at the Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health

More poetry: Dr. Michael Abramson's poetry, "timeless," by Joe Davis "Menstrual Traveling Show," song cycle by Geneva Kachman, "A Death in the Family," by Ellaraine Lockie

"Menstruation"

©1991 by Peggy Lee Prince

I live in a body

that grew bodies

and pushed them out

into a world as

painful and demanding

as birth.

Milk used to flow

instead of blood

when my children

were young

and my supply

equaled their demand.

But now

I'm not enough

for anyone

(not even myself)

and as they leave

I bleed their loss

and wait for the

bleeding to stop.

The poet writes (June 2001), "I wrote 'Menstruation' one day when I had cramps and two of my three teenaged daughters were leaving home for college. They no longer thought they needed me for anything and didn't value my opinions in the least. Of course, they did mature, and sometimes even ask for Mom's advice. I'm very proud of my daughters and will enjoy sharing your site with them.

"Fortunately, I no longer have cramps, PMS, or that tremendous sense of loss. I must say, I'm finding menopause to be a wonderful stage of life. I now have time for myself and my interests and am no longer ruled by raging hormones. There is great peace in this." [Read women's comments about stopping menstruation.]

More poetry: Dr. Michael Abramson's poetry, "timeless," by Joe Davis "Menstrual Traveling Show," song cycle by Geneva Kachman, "A Death in the Family," by Ellaraine Lockie

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