Suffrage Lives On

Femicide on the rise

Women armed with restraining orders

Gun beats paper

She/her/they/them dead

No widespread Pro-Life outrage

No judicial or legislative protection

Self-defense by Black and Brown women unlawful

They have the right to remain silenced

Anything they say can and will be used against them in the court of law

They have the right to an attorney. If they cannot afford an attorney

one will be provided for appearances only. They have the right to remain guilty

In Georgia wombs granted rights

a fetus counts as a dependent as of 2022

Too bad for girls with duplicitous parents

Willing to coerce daughters into adult acts for a 2 for 1 tax credit

The smart and patient ones will wait until their daughters are 18

17 and a half will probably suffice

this is new life after all

And America’s Pro-life until menstruation

Then she will have that baby no matter what

Prepubescent body

Knock her out and cut

Butt scooched down

Legs splayed open

Vulnerable position without permission

Criminal

Ovary oversight a one-woman job

Angry mobs hassle women seeking care

Their jeers and cruel eyes reveal true intentions

Misogynist Possession; her body

His choice – no self-autonomy

Without justice or choice

Suffrage lives on

***

Doret Canton was born and raised in Bronx, NY. She earned a BA in political science from Clark Atlanta University. Her work primarily centers around social, economic and political happenings. She makes random connections like the other day while getting out of the shower she thought rats, roaches or racists- which will cease to exist first? Her work has appeared in What Rough Beast. She currently lives in Atlanta, GA.