we exquisite beings of brilliant strength and brawn.

Expressed so strongly.  Love it.

Ty so much for reading, Lj. I am so grateful for your kind words! 💪🏻
🌹
xo
B

It takes real strength to go through menopause for women. I know because my wife did it. However, she made it and went on to live a fantastic life afterward. But women go through pains as part of life that men can only imagine from childbirth to menopause.  Your poem is a wake-up call to men to understand the suffering of this life passage and show kindness and understanding to these brave warriors in life change.

Xo
John

Thank youuuuuuu, John!!
I am thrilled and thankful for your comments and solidarity. You speaking of the sheer truths that women's bodies endure during our lives, is a precious gift to me. I think it's stigmatized greatly, still, discussions about periods and menopause, that is. To me it seems Ike perimenopausal and menopausal woman aren't too keen on discussing the gravity of the issue as well as a lot of men.  I feel it is so very important to get this issue out front without embarrassment or shame.

My mother had a horrible experience with her menopause but it was never discussed in our family at the time, making a bad situation that much worse. That's just unacceptable! I think it was how she was raised and that's just not going to be my process at all. I'm not embarrassed by what happens naturally and yes, it's incredibly difficult. More so now, than at anytime in my most fertile younger years. I just figured @ 48 I'd have a little bit more time left.....lol... I was wrong!
So let the destigmatization begin!! 👍🏻 ☺

I am utterly grateful for you, the generous list add and your empathy. I am glad you are able to remember the stresses and (the almost insurmountable feeling) challenges that this menopause portion of life places on a woman and those they love. I just continue to remind myself it's not a permanent state of being... lol...

Much love and respect,
🌹
xo
B

Dear BV,

Cheers to that milestone that never seems to end between the hot flashes, night sweats, decreased hormones, mood swings, joint pain, and muscle aches.
And here I thought my original sentence of 35 years of monthly inconvenience was annoying! I can’t tell if parole is better or worse?!
“ of highest highs and lowest lows
speckled hurts and exhaustion to bone” you nailed it. Is there a “man”opause process men have?
Great write with a great subject matter no one likes to really acknowledge for whatever reason. H🌷

My dearest H,  
I can't tell you how many times I have thought of 'man'opause!!! ...They're lucky little devils, they are! Sheesh, we really are the badasses of badasses!!  
💪🏻... Just ONE out of your list of ailments/ side effects we as women deal with during menopause, would simply wreak havoc in the daily lives of men... haha... I long to be able to power through this section of my life with more grace but I am who I am and sometimes stomping around and riling up things is needed 👍🏻 I wish more knowledgement was placed on this issue. It's a huge part of our emotional and physical journeys, that I feel get swept under the rug.... I think to the detriment of a lot of relationships / psyche's, too.  
That's one thing I can't do and that's to 'go quietly into that good night' ..... ha!

I thank you so much for your solidarity, Honoria. It means the world to me.... sincerely. I am so so grateful for your thoughtful comments, the generous list add and all your amazing insights.  

All my warmest regards,
🌹  
xo
B

Beautifully written my beautiful poetess. Every man knows girls are tougher than boys. We have the easy side from making babies to birth and then you get the menopause. You lot did get the shit end of the stick.
Great read awesome rye opener
Love and light and sympathy
Ron xx

Thank you for reading and leaving these wonderful comments, Ron. I wish more guys would! It's an important discussion and terrific way to destigmatize something that's completely natural and really difficult, I think. I agree, about the shit end of the stick! 💯 💯 💯... I am so grateful for your visit and the generous list add, my lovely friend!

You really impressed me with your solidarity and I'm so appreciative of you!!!
Hugs and loads of respect,
🌹
xo
Susan

It's the simple fact of acknowledgement or maybe just the sentiment of empathy, like you've so very graciously left here for me, that spur this discussion. To me, that's the best; continuing this much needed dialogue about menopause and the issues that covers. I cannot thank you enough for leaving your thoughts and opinions. It's heartening and the first baby steps to begin to make these conversations just the usual.... a 'no big deal'.  
I am so grateful for you, Ru.  

Much love and respect from across the pond  
✨ 🌊 ✨
xoxo  
💙-S

When that doesn't matter anymore...it's sort of freeing ...🌹Blue

I long for that feeling and look forward to it with so much anticipation.... I can hardly wait, Grace! ... Uggh. Ty so much for reading and your thoughtful comments
🌹
xo

Bless and much love ...

I adore your visits, my lovely friend 🙏🏻
Ty so much for sharing your thoughts and the generous list add as well. I appreciate you :)
Returned blessings ✨

🌹
xo
B

Righteous feminine write ... the large stanza ... short lines ... sustains the thundering cadence ... getting louder ... then the couplet and the orphan line ... hits hard ... leaving me jarred ... invigorated ... with an odd sense of relief ... for letting the words be said ... not kept inside any more ... wonderful B ...

Ohh LilD - My lovely friend!!
I thank you for reading and understanding that 'relief' of needing a truth be told. I am so very appreciative and grateful for all your kind thoughtfulness.

You are so impactful.... in the best of ways... ✨
Much love,
🌹
xo
B

You flatter me so, I am extremely appreciative, my dear poet. I humbly thank you for sharing your thoughts and the generous list add as well.

All my warmest regards,
🌹💙🌹
-B

I am so grateful for your visits and of the reading of your beautiful poetry... I have only been supportive and kind from the very beginning of your time here, PQ. My heart and feelings ache and hurt, seeing you have made a decision that I don't understand in blocking me. I am utterly confused and wish you could have felt comfortable coming to me first before that option was applied. I appreciate everyone's decision to do so... I just wanted you aware of my sorrow and I also wanted to offer any apologies I can for whatever it is that I am unaware of, that I've done. I'm only wanting everyone to have the best experiences possible here... so I do wish you all the best and I am sorry I will miss out on your poems.  

Take care-
B

OhhhhhhMyGoodness .... I was almost in tears!!! 😭.... jeez... I need to reassess my badassness... because I'm such a softie!

Thank you for clarification
I'm glad to see you 🦋
Ohh what a nice relief
No worries
...
I'm just happy we're cool 😎
🌹
xo
B

No no no!!
We're all good
🌹
x

hahahaha.... remember to unplug it first!!... lol...
🚫⚡🤯⚡🚫

🌹-💙

Perfectly poetical tribute, I love it! 😂

❤

Awww... I do appreciate that muchly! Thank you so much for stopping by to read and leave your thoughts...  
Always a pleasure ✨  
🌹 - 💙  
xo  
B

I was mostly raised by three strong women and I always sympathized. When my wife needed emergency surgery, I could not imagine her pain but watching her go through this ordeal gave me a complete perspective.

Strength and brawn describes it perfectly. Great work.

I love your decent and pure heart, Walter! It's a true man who can appreciate a poem of this nature. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts and backstory... That's awesome( your influences) and it makes you more rounded of a person, in my opinion....

Much appreciations and all my gratitude,
🌹 - 💙
B