I have found myself having a very strong visceral reaction to all the bills that have passed or await a vote in the United States this week regarding Women’s Reproductive Rights. I wrote the first two stanzas of the poem below in hopes that anyone else who needs to write through their feelings would feel free to do so. If this generates a response from you, please feel free to add in the comments below.
I will wear red
for my sisters whose health is at risk
for my sisters who have been raped
for my sisters who have been battered
for my sisters who are already struggling
to feed hungry children
for my sisters who need to finish
middle school
high school
college
grad school
for my sisters who are just not prepared
I will wear crimson
for their lifeblood
that will spill in back alleys
that will stain
wire hangers
knitting needles
other unsterilized implements
that become their only option
in a country that questions
their ability
their very right
to decide
© 2019 Christine Elizabeth Ray – All Rights Reserved
Brave & Reckless 
Very powerful. I wish I had the ability to adequately express my disgust and anger with the powers that be. Grateful that you can/do.
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I am still struggling to adequately express my rage, and my fear, and my frustration. But it is a start.
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Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
Christine Ray – “I will wear …”
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❤ Amazing poem!
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Thank you Casey- it is such a scary and infuriating time.
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It’s so maddening.
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There is a part of me that is just so damn tired of having to defend my right to make my own choices about my life, my own body. Why is this even still up for debate?!
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It is surreal what is happening! Keep writing. Voices need to be raised.
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I am never one to go down quietly V.J. My hope is to connect with others who need to make noise.
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You inspire me with all that you do!
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Sometimes your soul simply can’t rest until you do SOMETHING. Writing has become my therapy, my solace, but also my protest.
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Same here. Body has all but quit, but words are still flowing, lol.
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I don’t know what color to wear
For the child of rape forced to accept
Her mother’s rapist as Father
For that mother forced to put her daughter
Into the hands of her rapist
For the grieving mother mourning a miscarried child
And under investigation for possible homicide
For the child of incest
Life-long symbol of a family’s shame
For the doctor who must make a judgment call
On a woman’s life or a doomed fetus and
Facing 99 years if a court disagrees
No, I don’t know the right color to wear
Black of grief?
Rage red?
What color is fear?
Perhaps Gold for resolve that
These horrors must not come to pass
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Beautifully captures the feel of the Sword of Damocles dangling over our country
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Thanks – and it goes beyond Roe to the legal theory on which it was based, that the Constitution gives an implied or implicit right to privacy. If that is brought down, a number of other key decisions are in jeopardy.
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I think we stand on a slippery slope on so many levels as a country now, with so many not realizing the true cost of this administration
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But many also do realize, maybe, just maybe, enough.
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