I bleed you!
And you dare hinder me?
It is You I bleed
The blood is the purpose of my Creator
To procreate and to nurture his universe
My bleeding is an obedience to the will of my Father
Just like you have life and I have life too,
It is a natural phenomenon
Why then, would you tax the protective cloth I wear?
Why then, do you wish I deviate from the purpose of my Creator
I cry scream and wail
I become ashamed of that bleeding
That grace, that goodness
Which you have made me see now as a curse, and a burden
Now, my heart is burdened
I wish it away
But, just as you have life still, I have blood still
It never leaves because it is what it is
The blood is for your existence
You exist because I bleed
So, stop the shaming
Stop the Stigma
Because they push me to becoming victims of Gender Based Violence
Ghana, my beloved nation that exists because of my blood
Violates my fundamental human right by taxing my sanitary towel,
Yet the people make reference to the land as Motherland; What hypocrites!
They for so many years have ignored my wailing and weeping for the Tax to be removed
Now, relentless shall I fight until I am heard!
Join your weapons with mine and fight with me to eliminate all the limitations
That hinder my obedience to the will of God
I must bleed because God sets it so
Selflessly for your own existence.
So, if you really care for me,
Then, hear me too.
Let’s build a conducive environment for women and girls to bleed, unapologetically.
A Poem By:
Magdalene Dorto,
Youth Activist
Global Youth Connect Think Tank Member
Youth Action Movement Ghana National Treasurer
