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Why do we have to think in such black and white terms? What about the grey area? Does she have to be pro-choice or “pro-life”? Could it just be simply a poem that expresses her emotions about abortion without the goal to make a political statement? I agree with Alex, it is sad that politics can take pleasure away from someone else’s writing.

 Barbara Johnson may have composed this poem with the intention to keep it vague and ambiguous so as to prevent the very way our class discussion headed toward politicizing “The Mother.”  

I read this poem empathetically. I want to understand the emotions of the individual writing aside from any beliefs I may have about abortion. What struck out to me is the array of emotions and the conflicting and racing thoughts that the woman expresses through the poem. Maybe the poem is a way for the mother to explore her confusions and come to terms with the abortions she has had if in fact she had an abortion. To enter the territory of exploring what the poet may have implied is reasonable, but as Lydia mentioned, assuming that the end is an apology without regard to other possibilities IS to put words into the poet’s mouth.

“The Mother” appreciates the limitless range of emotions that may occur after an abortion whether it is grief, sadness, nostalgia, relief or a mixture of any or all of them. The poem regardless of its possible political interpretations allows the reader to take a look into a very personal decision and in some ways may validate the realness of the feelings that can rise to the surface with such a decision. Regardless of an individual’s political perspective on abortion, no one can disagree or accuse another individual’s emotions as incorrect.