Blue Taboo
I’ve learnt so much about periods through ads,
Sanitary napkin ads!
They taught me
That periods can’t stop me from wearing white pants
(Umm, what about stopping me from entering a religious place?)
Or that I can sleep with my limbs stretched out during periods
(Forget about the excruciating pain that won’t let me sleep in the first place!)
Or that I can jump and run and play sports even during my period
(And eat what’s available ‘cause the kitchen’s too sacred for me…)
Well, most of all, they taught me that I’m not human. I’m alien.
‘Why?’ you ask
Because my blood is blue!
Ok, well, maybe aliens don’t have blue blood
But you can’t blame me,
Remember, Andorians?
Or maybe, I am human
But the uterus is not what science textbooks claim it is
It’s an ink-pot
I can hear it sing
“I am an ink-pot
Short and stout
This is my cerv beaker
And this is myvag spout
When the bloink is flowing,
Cover my spout
With a high absorption pad
To soak up the ink
And fly with its XXL wings”
And to those promoting the ink-pot’s well-being
By wishingus a happy period so that we can stay free,
Here’s a better marketing strategy –
“Ek sanitary napkin par ek fountain-pen free”
Squeeze that ink through the pad
And flow with the cursive script!
And the ad jingle you ask?
‘Blue hai period period period period period period
Aur consistency hai never viscous viscous viscous viscous viscous!’
I know you sang it too!
So, dear individuals with a flowing ink-pot,
The next time you stain your clothes because of periods
Remember, it can’t be that!
Because you’d have to have a blue stain
Or you’re making this whole thing up
Just like patriarchy, inequality, exclusion and shaming.
It’s all in your head. Oops, ink-pot.
Anyway, gotta go.
Time to change…my sanitary napkin.
What did you think?!
Poet: Lamia Baga
srawala
Lamia is a clinical psychologist by profession, her practices and interactions are driven by feminist, affirmative and strengths based ideas. She loves indulging in travel, food, solitude and creative arts.
Editor: Divya Rosaline
