From quilting (1991), "poem in praise of menstruation" Summary

This poem has been considered a signature piece by Lucille Clifton, identifying her as a feminist poet, although her topics range far beyond typical feminist topics. The first stanza compares the flow of the blood to the flow of a beautiful river, and the color of the blood to the "blood-red edge of the moon." The second stanza refers to the faithful recurrence of the period. The third stanza points out the courage of women receiving their periods, which cause pain and also passion. The fourth stanza points out that menstruation is ancient thing, back to the mother of cain and abel, eve. The final and fifth stanza points out that menstruation is probably the most powerful flow in the world, asking if there could be a...