ALLEGORY Poem: Bleeding Women, by Julia Frederick

After Dianna Vega’s“boy laughs at my period-stained skirt”
(Contains the verse“a bleeding woman. don’t” from Vega’s poem)

Making eye contact with the
very male Target employee
as I place tampons in my basket
and as I walk away I have to laugh
because he looked like he saw what
he wasn’t supposed to.
I should apologize right there
in the fluorescent aisle for this marring
of his innocence.
But I don’t.
I just add chocolate to the pile.

Once, Dad, the same man
who burst blisters on unwashed feet
after hour-long hikes in the hot
New Mexico summer found
an unused, fully wrapped tampon
in the car cup holder and exclaimed with
disgust. A scandalous secret of the other
sex. I think, is this what it is
to be a woman?

Mom tells me to lower my voice
when I complain of pain in my middle
because my brother is coming down
the stairs and God forbid he hears me.
Lest he know that I am
a bleeding woman.
Don’t let anyone see that
there is life leaking from
between your legs.

I pay for my items alone
at self-checkout.
Why should I be ashamed?
It is not just women
who bleed.