Becoming a Woman by Hilary Tham

I read the poem once, I didn't understand it. I read it again, trying to make sense of the stanzas...understood it a little better.Went back to it one last time and it all make sense to me! Who said poetry is easy let alone trying to make sense of it.
The poetry discusses about initiation of a girl into a lady, a mother and a grandmother passing on the tradition and knowledge along with the initiation to the next generation.

The poem discusses about the persona's mother started off by teaching her  to use the rice paper as a modess signalling us that her daughter has reached puberty. Each time the persona would have her period she would be very upset and uncomfortable not understanding the reason behind the trouble. However the persona now a grandmother is blessed with children and grandchildren . She now understood her duty that she bear, that is to ensure the generation continues.

I think this is a good piece of poem to be related to the students. It doesn't matter if boys too are given to read the poem. It could teach the students to appreciate the menstrual process. It could also teaches the boys that the females bear more pain than males in continuing the generation. If the boys don't agree, it could be a good piece to be discussed in the classroom!