PRO-LIFE FOR DUMMIES
This bundle of cells
inside my body
must be protected
from me
This knot of matter
matters more
than the human host
My uterus must be guarded
lest my brain decide otherwise
since my brain is flawed
because I am only a woman
and you know better
and babies must be born
and intra-uterine ultrasounds are cool
(not a form of rape)
Even though the condom broke
The Pill failed
The boyfriend abused
The husband wanted and took
The father fathered
The stranger raped
Even though I know I
cannot raise this child in love
in security and hope
and the schools you provide
will never educate
and the help you will offer
is skewered by bitter judgments
After all that, you have
no words of condemnation or obligation
for the sperm donor
for the “father”
(who will never be a father)
My uterus must be protected
from my logical brain
Lord, save me from Christians
who believe pro-birth is pro-life
© 2015 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sometimes it has to be political. Sometimes it’s so obvious. You are welcome to comment, but please don’t SCREAM AT ME IN ALL CAPS. And no foul language, because everyone knows what a prude I am!
For ABC Wednesday, once they post today, E for Extremist. Also for Poetry Pantry at Poets United, where you will find an abundance of diverse voices. Give these sites a try. Take the leap! Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Polly
Hurrah!
Sanaa Rizvi
Whoa.. quite a bold piece!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
Ha… Better raise children so they can be sent to death-row as adult… Your point is rather mainstream here in Sweden. Not even right wings want to change the pro choice.
Magaly Guerrero
The irony that oozes out of most pro-life policies are sickening and infuriating. Your poem does such a great job at reflecting the disgust, the injustice, the rage…
mybeautfulthings
Brilliant poem making so many thought provoking points.
Thank you for this, Sally
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
You tell ’em, Amy. Brava.
Mary
I hope that the voters will be smart enough not to send one of these people to the White House. Points well made.
Rosemary Nissen-Wade
Great title! And I think you know I endorse your views.
oldegg
How right you are but sadly there are politicians who like to take the opposite view to stir people up in order to divide and harm. We have a chance to make the right decisions if we don’t nature will sort it out by itself with dire consequences. Good to see you blogging again Amy.
Jae Rose
No screaming, no yelling…your poem is full of dignity and should be honoured – all i can say is I hear you..if not understand completely…peace to you Amy..you deserve it xo
glmeisner
I do believe I will share this one later today.
C.C.
No, pro-birth does NOT mean pro-life. You are a sharp little pencil indeed! Missed your voice. Glad to see you back 🙂
Melody
An entry wich sets my brain at work , never a bad thing.
Melody (abc-w)
Roger Green
Word!
ROG, ABCW
lesliebc
After all that, you have
no words of condemnation or obligation
for the sperm donor
for the “father”
(who will never be a father)
This viewpoint is one that no one ever seems to take into account. I had to give a child up for adoption because abortion was not legal yet. Then I probably would have done it, but now I tell my daughters that I would support them in raising a child without its father. This is a bold and enlightening point of view that Xians should explore. I won’t go to church anymore because of its (the church’s) stand on it. Brava!
Leslie
abcw team
sharplittlepencil
Leslie, congratulations on making it through single motherhood. Yes, it was hard back in the day, and it may get harder again, if the House Republicans have their way, along with neocons like my governor, Scott Walker.
No one wants to legislate that fathers MUST provide for the child, and any single mom who has tried to get support from an unwilling birth father knows the drill, including their own character being assassinated…
There are women who get pregnant where abortion is legal and still keep the baby, and to them, I also say congrats. The idea is the CHOICE being available, even if no one uses it. I wish in my heart that every pregnancy was desired at the time it happened. And I look at my (now wizened but once vibrant) belly and think, “When did any man ever get to decide this?”
Also worth noting that I am the survivor of child sexual abuse. That’s’ a whole ‘NOTHER poem, right?
Mama Zen
Preach, sister!
readerwil
In my church there is a y oung woman who wanted a child, but didn’t want to ,have a partner. She asked one of her friends , whom she liked, to donate the sperm. She became pregnant and the father is still her best friend and around to look after his son if necessary.
I think this is a beautiful, loving arrangement. Most members of our community agree with it.
Thanks for your comment, Amy! I still think E nglish is difficult because of all the rules, each of them have many exceptions, which have to be learned by heart.
Have a great week! BTW Spanish is even more difficult with two past tenses!
Wil, ABCW T eam
sharplittlepencil
Wil, thanks for a wonderful story. Yes, when it works out, when the baby is welcome and wanted and looked forward to, when there is a support system in place, a nd no matter how different the family, the birth of a new child is a great thing. Watching him or her grow can be a joy!
And to the members of the community who don’t agree… sadly, most of them are probably loyal churchgoers. People use God and Christ to justify all kinds of meanness… Amy
Beat About The Book
Food for thought there and strongly put. Pro-life is definitely not pro-birth.
Ira PT
That is so strong!
kaykuala h
and the help you will offer
is skewered by bitter judgments
You’ve said it loud and clear. All said and done and it is left to one self to choose and pass judgement for one’s own interest. It is the norm of the current state of affairs. One jealously guards ones’s rights and options which are already eroded by powers that be! Brave write Amelita!
Hank
Sumana Roy
I LOVE this bold voice Amy…nice to see you here…
Oakland Daily Photo
Isn’t it amazing that pro-lifers are also pro-death penalty and anti-contraceptives. Keep on telling it like it is.
Su-sieee! Mac
Verily.
oldegg
This planet is grossly overpopulated now for all the care we are able to give (or care to give) all the human race. Wars are not sufficient to decrease the population increase so we should be sensible. Sadly humans don’t have a great deal of common sense which is rare in our species.
(Thanks for your visit yesterday Amy it was good to see you. Six sentences stories often have to be manipulated a bit with elongated sentences. I will try to be little more considerate next time).
lynn__
No animosity, Amy, but my brain thinks men (and women) must choose wisely before conception…after which, all lives deserve consideration! Abortion does not encourage “fathers” to be responsible but inflicts harm on two victims: mother (rape) and child (death). I personally know many Christian families who have adopted “unwanted” children, which seems to me a loving alternative.
purplepeninportland
Scorchingly true!
mary sargeant
“… and intra-uterine ultrasounds are cool…” –I know where that came from. I also live in Wisconsin and feel so many things… loathing, shame, impatience… when that man opens his mouth. Thank you for penning this poem.