There is no word
For the ordinary happening
Of a uterine lining degrading
Unused, again, this time
Menses is Latin for ‘month’
The uterus contracts, squeezes
Rings itself out like an angry
Dish rag demon possessed and
Menstruation just means
‘Monthly happening’
This tiny hard walnut fist
Shooting lightning rage
Down my legs and pushing
Clumps of hot red blood
Out out out but Period
Just means ‘bit of time’
This thing this happening
Every twenty-eight days or so
From thirteen to fifty or so
For half the people on earth
For all of human history
Remains unnamed
Give me a word that says
Normal Uterine Blood Purge
You cowards
Photo by Joel Filipe on Unsplash
Dáire Shaw is a queer neurodiverse Irish multimedia woman artist from Wicklow, Ireland. She works primarily across art, photography, and poetry, and is currently pursuing an honours degree as a mature student in art photography at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology, (IADT) Dunlaoghaire, Ireland. Proudly published numerous publications and has exhibitions in Gaslamp Gallery, Dublin and Wicklow Artists Gallery.
Dáire is deeply interested in the exploration of the human condition at its intersection with meaning through art and symbolism. On a personal level, Dáire uses her art in an attempt to understand herself and the world she finds around her.
