“Bled By Lauren Estrada

I have bled,
I keep bleeding,
I will bleed until I’m bled dry, aged out of bleeding
And a good cluster of people will always be needing
A source of pay for blood red “liquid funds”
Pouring out of our pockets, a stain until done
The energy and time that goes flushed down the drain
With colleagues, its not something we can explain
If I’m in the red, you’ll know it, though you’ll be repulsed by it
I’ve hid all my life I’ve had it, I’ve lied it
Wasn’t salmonella or weak constitution
That kept me from attending this institution
I’ll be still as I can amidst currents, a flood,
That contorts my guts clockwise as I swim through thick mud,
This haze of a headache, the touch-tender chest
You’ll say that I’m bitchy, hormonal at best
And you say that I have ways to control this?
There are holes I can close up, no different from piss?
Bull. Shit.

”

“Mother Nature’s Gift By A’lea Render

The sun peeked around the corner of a cloud,
Throwing a spotlight onto my car,
Eventually, it was stolen... But back then...
Back then, It morphed into a temporary bedroom, a closet, a dining area, and a living room after gentrification robed my stability.

So there I was, layin’ across the back seat of my car.
Snuggled in a blanket.
As I felt the sun gazin’ down upon me,
I suddenly realized that
Mother Nature’s gift will keep comin’ with no regard to my economic or social status.

I had to meet the demands that come with
The honor of possessing the red badge of courage.
Being forced to choose the lesser of two evils, resulted in petty theft.
It’s not right.
And in a perfect world I wouldn’t have to pay for ‘em.

But money is power!

Yea, I’d like to exchange a few words with Misogyny and Patriarchy...
Like, Why are Condoms and Viagra tax free, and tampons are not?
Our tax code should represent our values.
Look at the ideals attached to this statute,
Menstruation hygiene is devalued.
We demand greater autonomy.
Like breathing, it’s natural anatomy.

I find it ironic how
Gangstas will say blood all day but this conversation is neglected.
Commercials use a blue liquid to promote menstruation products, but blood is thicker than water.
Parents and educators are comfortable with their children’s naivety on this subject that matters.
Activists protest about innocent blood spilled in the streets,
But somehow overflowing into the sheets is an unspeakable biohazard.

How can society be so comfortable with all the bloody things... yet so uncomfortable with bloody beings?
It hits home for everyone because
People spend decades learning to embrace this personal gift, or someone they love does.

There’s an elephant in the room.
Menstruation cycle.
It’s the only type of blood flow that is not traumatically induced,
Yet somehow traumas are unnecessarily induced.
We continue to go around in cycles.
Let’s put an end to the trauma involved with this life cycle.”