Menarche

J.J. Starr McClain

“When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood,
she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days, and whoever
touches her shall be unclean until the evening.” 
                                                                                    Leviticus 15:19

Bleeding
no one said hymen
so I shred it

by tampon. What we had
a box & instructions

on the back
of the toilet.

I never thought it
oh wow this thing
but wanted to

covet the little
bleedhole—

it’s so pretty
& full of smell.

No one said much
just
this makes virgins, that

makes pollution.
What I heard

is all it is           —free
my infected

head or make me hear
thy affected
prayer.