Desperate Choices

Somewhere there’s a woman – battered,
bruised and pregnant.

Somewhere there’s a daughter – teeming
with dreams, until the line turned blue.

Somewhere there’s a mother – obedient
to the cross, yet can’t afford another mouth.

Somewhere there’s a man – choosing
between his wife’s life and their unborn child.

Somewhere there’s a young boy – beat down,
his freckles a reminder of his wife’s attacker.

Somewhere there’s an infant – tossed
in a dumpster. Crying. Dying. Alone.

Somewhere there’s a woman – shivering,
blood pooling on ceramic tile,

coat hanger slipping from her palm
in desperation.

By Shawn Aveningo Sanders

Biography:

Shawn Aveningo Sanders started out as show-me girl from Missouri and after a bit of globetrotting finally landed in Portland, Oregon. She is a widely published poet who can’t stand the taste of coconut, eats pistachios daily and loves shoes—especially red ones! (redshoepoet.com) Shawn’s work has appeared in over 130 literary journals and anthologies. She’s a Pushcart nominee (2015), Best of the Net nominee (2017), co-founder of The Poetry Box, managing editor for The Poeming Pigeon. She also served as journal designer for VoiceCatcher (2015-16) and was winner of the first poetry slam in Placerville, California (2012). Shawn is a proud mother of three and shares the creative life with her husband in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon.