a wife's emotions are raging
her husband merely dismisses her
"she's just pms-ing"
but he doesn't understand
a girl in class is upset
the boys laugh at her
"she's just pms-ing"
but they don't understand that
a waterfall gushes out whenever you sneeze
a stabbing sensation punishes you for every step
an ache in your back starts that just won't go away
a migraine begins mysteriously
it isn't just a rage that appears and disappears
a sadness that hunkers down to stay
they tell us to be grateful
"you have it better than most girls
around the world they might experience
worse things than you, like
a filthy isolated hut in the middle of the woods built to hold a tiny girl
an empty dirt stained mug that no one dares to fill
a blackened rag to catch the "dirt" that pours out of her
a hunger for food that's never satisfied
a spike in temperature that doesn't go away
a hand with blackened frozen fingers
a wild animal pounces and adds fresh crimson to the brown
but how can i be grateful
when i hurt
and ache
and fill with pain
for the crime of being a mother-in-waiting
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