The Menopause
by Ems
once
i thought
i was
a rational woman
funny
light
friendly
the sort
who smiled
at strangers
and accidentally
made their day
i still think
she lives
in here
somewhere
probably
behind
my left ovary
playing dead
until
the hormones
leave
every morning
i wake
with hope
today
i whisper
today
i shall be
calm
measured
a fully licensed
adult
then
someone
chews
like theyre
auditioning
for a nature documentary
and suddenly
i know
prison food
cant be
that bad
my husband
has developed
the survival instincts
of a man
approaching
a wounded bear
he doesnt
ask questions
he doesnt
make sudden movements
last week
he quietly
picked up
a sock
without being asked
and honestly
thats hotter
than anything
netflix
has produced
in years
i get hot
constantly
not
romantic hot
more
freshly baked
ham
at christmas
hot
my glasses
fog up
from my
own face
my bra
has become
a small
humid climate
recognised
by the bureau
of meteorology
people say
have you
tried
deep breathing
yes
have you
tried
not speaking
i cry
because
someone
rescued
a duck
i laugh
because
the chemist
called out
number
sixty nine
my memory
has resigned
without notice
i walk
into rooms
like a sim
whose player
cancelled
the instruction
halfway through
my body
is now
an escape room
built
by satan
and sponsored
by estrogen
nothing
opens
nothing
fits
nothing
makes sense
the internet
calls this
my second spring
which sounds
lovely
until you realise
its actually
four seasons
every hour
with occasional
hail
from your nipples
but
every now
and then
between
the sweat
the rage
the tears
and negotiating
with the dishwasher
like its
a hostage situation
i see her
that woman
who laughed
without checking
the news first
who loved
without needing
a nap
who believed
people
were mostly
doing their best
shes still
here
she just
needs
everyone
to stop
asking
if shes
ok
and for
the love
of everything
holy
pick up
your bloody
sock
before
i add it
to the manifesto
More by Ems
Ems's full record: their portfolio on Writory.
Published on the Writory Wall, which is free to post to and free to read · enter the November contest