The Menopausal Fire

is the warmth

of me

coming back to life

welcoming the crone

the hag

the wise woman within

to birth me in all my magnificence

The Menopausal Fire

burns all my old stories

in its hearth

so phoenix like

From their ashes

the new can arise

The Menopausal Fire

gives birth to the wholly

The one who waited patiently

for the lessons to be learnt

the experiences to forge

my strength

And time to mature its protege

so that a new warrior

could awaken

to birth a New Story

 Stephanie AW Bradley, Sunday 16th November 2014