Let It Bleed

Editor’s Note: Let It Bleed

What are the reasons behind our society’s approach and attitude towards the menstrual cycle? Why are women treated differently when they are going through their monthly ‘periods’? The millennials and Gen Z need answers and before Arnika Singhal opens the discussion on menses, here is her poem – Let it Bleed!

Let It Bleed

This is a piece, which I feel, is very close to the entire womanhood. All the girls, have to listen to some things which aren’t right at some point of time. This is about how we, beautiful souls, menstruate, bear the pain and yet stand strong.

Menstruating women cannot enter the kitchen
Sanitary pads and tampons are to be hidden

When on period, stay away from every religious place
But don't let the pain show on your face
  
Its time to eliminate old taboos
Time for the world to sit up and change it's views
  
Time to educate people – how important the flow is
And force them to stop criticizing this
  
Do what gives you comfort
Accept that sometimes the pain puts at discomfort
  
Time to open up about what each woman tolerates
Do not add to the agony when the pain irritates
  
Men! Help to bring the change
With menstruating women sit, talk and engage
  
Men and women of this generation
Understand that this is part of procreation
  
For it is Mother Nature’s equation
So embrace this process of menstruation

Let us Talk About Menstruation

Let us talk this out.

The monthly period is not just painful, but one is left to deal with mood swings, larger appetite, crappy feeling, while all the while the red coloured fluid flows out. Medicines, ice creams and chocolates are just a hand away and seem like saviours. Ugh! These menstruating “I want to kill everyone” days are tough.

But, this ensures the continuation of our species. This sign of womanhood is borne by girls, for the re-creation of beautiful faces just like them. This can’t be impure and gross. If a baby’s birth is considered such a pure and beautiful feeling, rather a sublime emotion, then how are menstruating gals impure and gross?

How shameful is it to carry a packet of sanitary napkins from the medical shop to your home? Next time you go to the shop, gather the courage and ask the shopkeeper a question. Why do they wrap pads in newspapers or black polythene? Why do they do this even though they are displayed in glass shelves within the shop? Ask them. And to take this a step further why not be bold enough to carry the pads without any wrapping just like anything else.

Let us keep the villages and interiors aside for a moment. Can you, even in metro cities, talk to your fathers and brothers about this? Hey people, it’s a natural flow. We can’t stop it from happening. Let us join hands and talk about this. Talk about it with your sisters, daughters, brothers and fathers. Empathy of our near and dear ones, including the brothers, fathers, friends, family and co-workers may not actually reduce the pain but their loving care and concern will certainly boost the morale and lessen the perceived pain.

So while we let it bleed, let this conversation open up!💫

About The Author

Arnika Singhal is a 15 year old who loves to pen down her thoughts. Apart from her interest in reading and writing she likes to dance.

She believes that she is a happy kid at heart though people often tell her that she thinks ahead of her age.