Becoming A Woman by Hilary Tham

When I was twelve, my mother initiated me
into the mysteries of becoming a woman
with a pound of rice-paper, the unadvertised
kind made from stalks and leaves, the stubble
after the harvest.

She taught me the art of crumpling,
stretching, folding the sheafs into
a likeness of Modess-factory-rejects.

               "You will bleed
at a special time of the moon."
she told me.  "use these
to reserve modesty and the secret
of your femaleness."

Her mother's way she passed to me
with the few words she had received
at her initiation.

Each full moon I cursed the tides
within my body.  I abandoned
tradition's rice-paper.

I have forgiven the moon since
our children came, spores of sunrise
in their newborn hands.

This poem is suitable for seondary school especially for teenager.  Even primary school year 9 to 12 suitable to appreciate this poem.

"Becoming A Woman" by Hilary Tham depicting a girl dilemma in her journey to become a woman.  At this period girls usually feel anxious and curious about her physical change.  From this poem, girls able to experience that it happens to every girl and they should appreciate what God had created for them.

As boys, the poem able togive them opportunity ti appreciate sacrifice of a woman, especially their mother.  Without their mother 'bleed every full moon' they wouldn't exist in this world.  And they should understand that how every mother thankful to the 'bleed of each month' when they holding their own children.