“A Poem for Women Who Don’t Want Children” by Chanel Brenner

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Chanel Brenner

A POEM FOR WOMEN WHO DON’T WANT CHILDREN

I won’t preach about the rewards of motherhood.

I won’t say it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

I won’t say it’s the best job I’ve ever had.

I won’t say you’ll regret not having a child.

I won’t say you’ll forget what life was like before.

I won’t say it makes life worth living.

What I will say

is my son died.

What I will say

is I would still do it again.

—from Rattle #42, Winter 2013
2013 Rattle Poetry Prize Finalist

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Chanel Brenner: “This poem was inspired by the answers I used to get from other mothers when I asked how they were doing with the whole new mother thing. It is from a collection of poems I have written about my son, Riley, since he died at age six from an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Writing about the loss has helped me survive. I hope my poems help others heal and realize they are not alone in their pain.”