– BY PRAGYA GUPTA –
Finally, I found the courage to share this
yes…
Do you know?
more than the pain
what gets me panicky
is the bloody stain
A monthly bummer
I bleed in pain
I ask the girl next to me
if my back is stained
I hide a sanitary pad
inside the sleeves of my Tees
or within the folds of my kurti
depending on the dress of the day
to the washroom i rush abashed
the thick sticky stain I wash & wash
in the sink with that handwash
Do you know
that a temple resides inside
inside the door between our legs
the inner chamber of the temple
is washed, painted every month
adorned and decorated
as She adorns herself
something like ‘sajna hai mujhe sajna ke liye…’
She?
She – The Lover
bejeweled and exotically dressed
she waits patiently
for her beloved’s arrival…
Tick tock tick tock
seconds turn into minutes
minutes into hours
hours into days
And when days turn into a fortnight
disheartened, she breaks down
tears down everything into shreds
burns them
with open arms and, a distant smile
lets herself be washed out
with the ruins, a bloody bath
out the doors of the shrine…
But, when and if her lover
wins the race and manages
to swim into her arms.
long lost lovers meet
embrace kiss make love
their union bears a life.
Yo! Life within a Life form…
Within the temple,
as a deity, its moulded and fed,
given human form and organs,
its heart starts beating, it grows within the safety of the temple
until its time for it
to face the world outside
outside the temple doors..!
The wonder of all the wonders!!
Hail the magic
of the biggest magician
we all know this
you know it too, right?
Then
why the silence
why the giggle
why the shame
why the stigma
why we become contaminated
why the untouchables
when we bleed…?
Isn’t it a matter of great pride
jollification and delight
Because Its a motherhood alarm
that goes off every month
every month it beeps,
‘knock knock, You are ready for the miracle!’
So listen, dear
instead of ignominy and mortification
let’s start, let’s begin
A monthly celebration
A monthly roistering
A monthly jamboree…!
About the autor
Pragya Gupta is an actor, poet, jeweller designer and social entrepreneur based in Kolkata (India). Raising awareness around menstrual hygiene among underprivileged women, she’s a volunteer for people’s collective PadSquad that works towards making sanitary pads accessible to women and girls in unserved and underserved communities in all parts of India. She’s also the founder of BLOOD WARRIORS, an online support group by & for Thalassemia patients and parents.
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For inspiration:
A very public menstrual leak, by Sarah Sahagian
Dear Period, by Yayeri van Baarsen
Period changes and chemotherapy, by Cruz Santana
A time for celebration, by Robyn Jones
October 7, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Congratulations !! Amazing👍👏👏
October 7, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Prague, you brought a tear yo my eye with your words. So beautiful and powerful. Such imagery and grandeur in your poem. Keep it up, my friend !!!
October 7, 2020 at 4:07 pm
सलाम आपकी आवाज को
October 7, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Beautifully written Pragya ! Can totally relate to it !
October 7, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Honoured and Humbled to have been featured in your esteemed International Magazine..Thankyou Yayeri Van Baarsen! Thankyou Shilpi A Singh.
October 7, 2020 at 5:43 pm
Thank you Pragya Gupta!
October 8, 2020 at 10:46 am
Pragya you wrote a beautiful poem. It is carrying so much emotion and it’s giving to every lady the courage to face monthly period with pride. Keep up with your great work.
October 12, 2020 at 6:39 am
Wonderfully penned the women’s beauty .keep writing Pragya.
October 13, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Very nice, excellent poem. God Bless you