by Amy Baskin (Author)

NIGHT HAG speaks of femininity through the eternal mouth of Lilith, the first woman.

stained cloth gusset lined with cotton

traces of lace grace the front face

and flowers so many flowers purple

and pink concealed by the flow no-

the flood of an unexpected collapse of

uterine lining early or late its timing

had slipped off the calendar gone unnoticed

now the search for supplies begins

the furtive quest the bleeding heroine's

journey to escape the attentions of

every major and minor player in this

chapter of her story the dispenser

appears loaded but she has no spare change in

her pockets no will to ask for a loan

because lending grants permission

to ask questions gain answers and

access to classified intelligence so

plan b is to ascertain the degree of the

leak and the damage done from the blackish

burgundy endometrial tide that reeks of dead

fish washed up on a sultry June beach

fold and wad one-ply toilet paper into a

makeshift pad remove sweatshirt and tie

sleeves securely around waist ward

off the urge to slink back to trig unnoticed

they will see through attempts at stealth

coldly calculate that strutting in late

reeking of Marlboro Reds provides the

necessary smokescreen to remain undetected.