I Saw Red
It must just be the heat
Or maybe I hurt myself there?
Heart throbbing, palms sweating
Nerves twitching
I was too afraid, too ashamed
To face this new dread
I saw red
Amma came to me, sat me down
You are now a woman, she said
Don’t enter the kitchen, or touch God
No need to go to school today
No need to play
Just spend time in bed
I saw red
I wore my first pad
With trembling fingers
Unaware of the whys and the hows
Will everyone tease me?
Would I be allowed to sit with the others?
Was I just a bother?
Anxious tears, I shed
I saw red
After all these years, and all the pain
I have fallen, and learnt
About myself, my body, my mind
Crossing the shame and stigma
I am not just my period
I am more
Red is passion
Red is love
Red is pride
Red is power
I smiled, as I bled
I saw red
Poet: Saini Krishnamurthy
Saini is currently finding her feet at Saral Designs, a social enterprise that designs product-driven solutions to solve critical problems in the field of menstruation, hygiene and sanitation. She loves travel, food and the company of books.
