From quilting (1991), "to my last period" Summary

This poem directly addresses the poet's last menstrual period. She calls the period, "old girl," and mentions that they've been together for thirty-eight years. She points out that the period always arrives "splendid in your red dress" but always brings trouble for the poet at the same time. In the second stanza, the poet creates an extended simile, comparing the leaving of menstruation to a discussion among elderly women who have hated a hussy within their midst, but once she is gone, they reminisce about how lovely she was. This means that even though the menstrual period was always difficult, it was also beautiful because it shaped the poet's life.

From quilting (1991), "to my last period" Analysis

This is one of Clifton's signature poems about the functions of the...