if there is a river
more beautiful than this
bright as the blood
red edge of the moon
if
there is a river
more faithful than this
returning each month
to the same delta
if there
is a river
braver than this
coming and coming in a surge
of passion, of pain
if there is
a river
more ancient than this
daughter of eve
mother of cain and of abel
if there is in
the universe such a river
if
there is some where water
more powerful than this wild
water
pray that it flows also
through animals
beautiful and faithful and ancient
and female and brave
---
Lucille Clifton, "poem in praise of menstruation" from The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton. Copyright © 2000 by Lucille Clifton. Reprinted by permission of BOA Editions, Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.
Source: The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton (BOA Editions Ltd., 1991)