The two poems about motherhood, “the mother” and “Motherhood” stuck out to me particularly because of the way they explore the topic of abortion and childbirth through the perspectives of mothers. They both provide a very nuanced perspective about abortion, one that appears difficult due to modern discourse and political circumstances. Perspectives on abortion appear to be heavily polarized today as they are tied to legislation which dictates the legality and thereby right of a woman to have an abortion if she chooses. I feel as though this heavy polarization masks the diverse perspectives women can have about abortion which exist within a spectrum between “pro-life” and “pro-choice”. The poems capture the deep chasm of uncertainty which these women had to and continue to traverse, the areas they feel to be oppressively grey in their morality. Despite the fact that perhaps these women decided to do what they felt was right, they still revisit their decisions in these moments with considerable thoughtfulness. They remind me of a thoughtful video essay I had heard, “Abortion vs. infanticide: is there a moral difference” from a content creator called oliSUNvia. In this video essay, the creator explores the various perspectives on abortion that exist along the spectrum from “pro-life” to “pro-choice”, creating a clear case for either side to illustrate the complicated philosophy which underpins any conversation about abortion.
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