The Red Stain That Begets Life Poem by Hillary Nwaigbo

Painting the sheet red at day's break.
Mother said, 'Don't let the boys know'.
Sister chuckles, 'You've become a woman'
Friends advised, 'Girl! Slay dirty'.
I was scared and only thirteen.

Not again it came on the 28th day
This time, I was on white cloak
The stains thus visible, I hid in shame
One risen from the menace of the society
That say, ' she's unclean'.

Going past the age of teen, I turned eighteen,
Then I knew what the message been sent meant
The human reds that lay in my tent,
Was a stain that begets life.
© MAVEN HILLS