Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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The Menstruating Man. An incision was made in my rear To reach a gut emergency, resulting from aging! After two colostomies and the passing of much time, I have survived ! Actually am alive! The remnants of that mad escapade Is an unhealed fissure, oozing fluid-- Sometimes with blood and sometimes clear. After deciding it was best to let it ooz And not, at my age of 81, to operate once again, I have a pad with a careful change when needed. I now see what my human female counterparts endure, The only female primate who bleeds when not potentially pregnant. I just bleed or ooze whenever, with never a pregnancy in sight ! But finally, as a feminist, I must now consciously endure My perennial menstruation and be reminded That all mammals are basically, genetically female! (Don't forget those two X's!) Frank Maurer 8 August 2023 1610 Hours.