Child-Free
A Reverse Poem | Jen Gossoo
My life is meaningless
Without a child
I refuse to feed myself myths, like:
I am self-sufficient. I am an artist. My family is still a family without a child in it. There is no infant-sized hole in my life.
I cannot tell myself such lies. The truth is:
I was meant to be a mother.
I cannot say
I feel fine
Around all this talk of babies, for
I squirm
When our aunts and sisters ask why
I am willing to accept
Childlessness.
Please do not call it
Child-free.
I am
The childless sister and daughter.
I will not say that I am
Truly as complete as I could be, and
I feel
This is good cause for woe.
I refuse to listen to those who insist that
It’s okay, because
I am not a mother, but
I am going on thirty.
______________
A note to readers who know me in real life:
This is a creative exercise; not a reflection of my personal feelings. This poem that can be read top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top to glean two completely different perspectives.
About the Creator
Jennifer Ashley
🇨🇦 Canadian Storyteller
♾️ Metis Nation
🎓 UVic Alumni 2020
Writing published by Kingston Writers Press, Young Poets of Canada, Morning Rain Publishing, & the BC Metis Federation to teach Michif in Canadian schools.
✨YA Magical Realism✨
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
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Comments (33)
Your story is commendable and welcome to visit my id
Congratulations on your top story .
I think this was brilliantly done. Definitely a top story!
Love it!! 🥰
Congratulations on your Top Story 💓😘💖❤👍
Congratulations on your Top Story
Amazing poem! Congrats on a well deserved top story!
Congratulations on top story :)
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
It's difficult, isn't it to be strong in the face of expectation? But I think this poem has validity both ways it's read for that same reason.
I'm also a parent.. nice job
Very beautiful poem. Congrats on top story! Well deserved.
I love how you handled this topic with such a beautiful double meaning that women can relate to no matter their stance because both are given a voice and a choice. I am the reverse read and empathized a lot with the first read in that I felt her grief of being misunderstood. Then to read it backgrounds and find my own voice expressed made me feel so heard. Lovely work! Congrats on TS.
Wow. You said something important here. So many people with seemingly good intentions pressure women about having kids or not having them. Both are equally valid and one never knows what someone’s fertility situation is, so it is best not to ask. I love this statement you made with you inverse poem 👏 💖
This is so heartbreaking. I hope you are blessed with a child that helps you fill that infant-sized hole. ❤️
This like poet
Amazing job! Keep up the outstanding work—congrats!
Well said, whether this is based on your life or not. Congratulations
Saving this, sharing this, loving this. This is for the competition, right? This one needs to be the winner. It's so good.
This is perfection. Well done, Jen. Congrats on the TS.
This is wonderful! Really well done! 👏👏👏
Jen, this is so good! Brilliant in fact, and definitely deserving of Top Story!
Congrats on Top Story!🥳
So happy they made it Top Story! Congratulations!!
Brilliant & beautiful!!♥️♥️💕