“By Choice” explores the broad, societal notions that motherhood is almost inescapably related to the female body. As a person who has not had children, I was struck by someone wishing me happy Mother’s Day this year. They knew I didn’t have children, but commented “As a woman, you’re a mother to more than just children.” I knew then, I had to explore this theme deeper, and this poem was “born.” Maybe that proved them right!

Lorrie Ness' work can be found at Palette Poetry, THRUSH, Typishly and other journals. She was nominated for a Best of the Net Award by Sky Island Journal. Her chapbook “Anatomy of a Wound” is published by Flowstone Press.