.................................
washing away the bitter moon woman
.................................

she didn't tell me why the first time
just belted me in and
reminded me to wash and I
knew I would die from it if not
the blood then her shame
but grandma said it happens
it's a pain in the ass but it happens
ain't nothing but a thang and don't
can tomatoes when it happens
other than that it ain't nothing
then she made sage bean bread

mother wouldn't look at me so
I washed and washed three cloths
full I washed until grandma found me
in the bathroom and said this was
nonsense and mother was buggy
and did I want to help her slice apples
it don't hurt apples only tomatoes
but I cut my finger on a paring knife
so she let me stop slicing and paint
red dot flowers on a paper towel
instead of dying

.................................
Renay
.................................

 
Copyright © Renay
March 1996

...a poem in this room by Douglas Clark...
"flowers, all my life only flowers..."
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