poem in praise of menstruation by Lucille Clifton

if there is a river
more beautiful than this
bright as the blood 
red edge of the moon          if 

there is a river 
more faithful than this
returning each month 
to the same delta                 if there 

is a river 
braver than this 
coming and coming in a surge
of passion, of pain               if there is 

a river 
more ancient than this
daughter of eve
mother of cain and of abel             if there is in 

the universe such a river           if 
there is some where water
more powerful than this wild
water
pray that it flows also 
through animals 
beautiful and faithful and ancient
and female and brave