FIRST WOMAN-BLOOD
Knots and medals, songs and pledges to survival, all these tie in to Menarche Days. Here we are on Camp. "April Jubilee Friendship Camp Trinidad at Golden Groove, 1964" hosts Girl Guides from various countries and walks of life. We eat our slices of cantaloupes at breakfast. For me, it is the first time i am tasting this fruit. Bright, beautiful as morning sun rising, sweet and delicious.
However; later in the evening, embarrassment hones its way in, in a wet sticky way. I feel a bit left out of the bigger picture; and i silently, [in my mind] wag a finger of disapproval at my mother, because the other girls tell me, it was their mother, not their father, who had explained to them about The Menstrual Cycle.
camp fire songs
under a bright night's moon -
first woman-blood
FIRST WOMAN-BLOOD © gillena cox 2018
REVISIT
1 April 2016
1 April 2015 #39
1 April 2015 #40
April One / One Love
Prompted by Marian and challenged to Let's write poems about being first, or on the subject of one--the power of one, one love, first in line, one is the loneliest number, we're number one--you got it. Go!
That was quite a memorable Easter, and good to have a father unafraid of his daughter's embarrassment. Mine helped me through some awkward times. God bless him.
ReplyDeleteThank you for you appreciation Kerry
ReplyDeletemuch love...
That's very vivid. I can imagine it being very shocking to start menstruating if your mother hadn't talked to you about it. You really capture life at Girl Scout camp, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation Marilyn
DeleteMuch😇love
Oh I remember those twelve year old moments.........not well enough described.........
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Sherry
DeleteMuch🌼love
Yes, I suppose you would remember such and event. I sure would !!!!!
ReplyDeleteNicely written, I feel it is true.
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Thank you for your appreciation Jim
DeleteMuch🌼love
Usually, a young girl’s first miracle. Your words describe this young woman’s experience so well,,I remember girl’s camp very well and you bring those memories back.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation LC
Deletemuch🌼love
It seems to me like auspicious timing.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you tie up the arrival of your period with 'Knots and medals, songs and pledges to survival', Gillena. You were lucky it was all girls together but they should have been a sisterhood of support - so sad that they wagged their fingers of disapproval. I like the way you include colour, without mentioning it, in the slices of cantaloupe, which links to the embarrassment that 'hones its way in, in a wet sticky way'. The haiku is stunning.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Kim
Deletemuch love...
Oh gosh yes I remember those days.. so many questions.. so much confusion!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Sanaa
Deletemuch love...
Oh yes... camping. I was camping with my family when this happened, and I do remember my father being very helpful. Appreciate this memory and its presentation, Gillena :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation Marian
Deletemuch love...
absolutely sensitively captured - all those mixed feelings, emotions, the camaraderies of friendships sweet, that can turn to wagging tongues ... souring the moment .... you really have probed the depths here - it's a great piece from start to finish!
ReplyDelete🍃Pat
Thank you for your appreciation Pat
ReplyDeleteMuch🌼love
Wow...what a weaving of that tale of girlhood to womanhood...a tactile telling.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation Paul
Deletemuch love...