Red 1, Yellow 9, Blue 12: Choice

[bookblather]

Author: Kat
Title: choice
Story: In the Heart
Colors: Red 1 (blood red), yellow 9 (yellowjackets), blue 12 (blue law).
Supplies and Materials: Canvas, brush (demarcate), stain (“We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” - Thomas Jefferson), modeling clay (choice), yarn (this picture), seed beads (Maya and Joy).
Word Count: 146.
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: Maya knows what she's doing.
Warnings: detailed discussion of abortion and anti-choice protesters.
Notes: This flatly refused to be prose.


the clinic is cold like
the metal under her
laboratory metal tables
and white-coated doctors

who frown and ask her if she is sure.

Of course she's sure.
She walked through protesters
shoving signs in her face, fetuses
curled up in metal pans--

they called her babykiller.

as if she didn't know why she's here.
as if she didn't know
what an abortion is
what her rights and options are

and that it's all her choice.

They give her painkillers and she closes her eyes
holds tight to Joy's hands
pretends she's not crying
when the cramps are too much

when the pain overwhelms her.

When it's over Joy helps her down
and she clings to her friend and shudders
because it's over, because it's not over
because she's relieved, because she's guilty

because she'll think of this for the rest of her life
and wonder.

Comments

[leia_solo]

Wow this is really powerful. I'm liking all these poetry posts from you!

[bookblather]

Thank you! There'll be another one today (found poetry this time, we'll see if it works).

[isana]

Damn. Like a punch to the gut. It really does show that it's not ever as easy as others think.

[bookblather]

It isn't, ever. I mean, Maya is fifteen, and she knows this is the best choice for her, but it's still really tough to go through. Which is why I grind my teeth when people talk about women getting abortions as cheap birth control, because a) it's not cheap and b) it's not anywhere near that easy.

Thank you.

[shadowsong26]

This is really well done, and powerful. Good job.

[bookblather]

Thank you. <3

[sarcasticsra]

I second that this is really powerful. Those last two lines especially hit me. Excellent work.

[bookblather]

Thank you very much.