On June 6th, 2015, at the 21st Biennial Conference of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research at the Centre for Women’s Health and Human Rights in Boston, conference participants celebrated with an Open Mic evening of Menstrual Poetry to close out #SMCR2015. This is the first in a series of posts at re:Cycling that aims to give a broader audience to some of the poetry performed that evening.
together we bleed – by Iris Verstappen
existence ain’t real
without blood
on moonless nights
on moon-full nights
we celebrate
together
we
bleed
and we celebrate the blood
that has been given to us
to give back
give back
to our mother earth
who holds
the tender soil in which our ancestral roots
take rest
together
we
bleed
we are the bloodline
that connects
generations of women giving
the life
we are living right now
and together
they
bled
we are the sisters
the guardians of the blood
the blood keepers
because
together
we
bleed
cherish the blood
honor the blood
because
together
we
will
bleed
Iris Josephina L. Verstappen is a menstrual awareness educator, doula & ashtanga yoga teacher from the Netherlands who is passionate about empowering people to make informed choices about their bodies on all levels.