This piece explores the under-discussed topic of period poverty.

They shed tears like they shed blood
apologetically
saltwater sweater cuffs tucked around thumbs
mascara marks make up the crime scene

They shed blood like they shed tears
silently
shaking hands placed over tender stomachs
bloodstained sheets behind yellow tape 

They shed tears like they shed blood
hoping it won’t incriminate them
feeling false in their fragility
a body out of step with its soul

They shed blood like they shed tears
like they shed skin
paying for a service they can’t refuse
some days, the pavement is more forgiving

They shed tears like they shed blood
in the dark
far from possible witness
wondering how the breath keeps coming

They shed blood like they shed tears
in tiled safety
far from piercing prosecution
wondering how the body heals itself

They shed blood, they shed tears
tissues too far out of reach
catching evidence of their humanity 
in their hands

Process

I wrote this piece in the summer of 2021 as a commentary on the injustice faced by people who menstruate. When bringing it to my mentor, she encouraged me to implement the issue of period poverty. As we prepped this piece for my college portfolio, we worked to strengthen the comparison of periods and tears to crime.