A Poem In Praise of Menstruation

This poem by Lucille Clifton was submitted for inclusion in the Tammuz Moon Manual by At The Well community member, Lena Walker.

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if there is a river

more beautiful than this

bright as the blood  

red edge of the moon     if

there is a river more faithful than this

returning each month

to the same delta

if there

is a river braver than this  

coming and coming in a surge  

of passion, of pain

if there is  

a river  

more ancient than this

daughter of eve  

mother of cain and of abel     if there is in  

the universe such a river

if  

there is some where water  

more powerful than this wild  

water  

pray that it flows also

through animals  

beautiful and faithful and ancient  

and female and brave  

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