i look in my knickers only to find
blood from my petal, it’s alright, i’m fine
just one more lesson, French with Miss May
my favourite class to end the day
i mop up the blood but can’t stop the flood
it’s on the top of my thigh. can i be a guy?
i’ve no tampons, no pads, no, they’re not free
i’ll just have to leave, it’s adios from me
i sneak out the gate, run home in disgrace
no more school this week, i can’t risk a leak
my attendance is low, there’s much i don’t know
but blood stains my clothes when it begins to flow
pads are a privilege, tampons a treat
and we’re broke, yet — they’ve money to smoke
exams in a month, i’ll fail with a two
my mind elsewhere — will the blood soak through?
Period Poverty: In the UK, 1 in 10 girls can’t afford to buy menstrual products, while 1 in 7 have struggled to afford them, according to a representative survey of 1,000 girls and young women aged 14-21 by Plan International UK. Read more…