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Working: Vol. 4, No. 2 - Issue 14 Summer 2025

Choice to Make a Choice​

Issue 6
June 24th, 2022
Roe v. Wade is overturned
 
August 22nd, 2022
Kansas referendum to amend the abortion law
922,321 votes in total
543,855 of them voting no
 
That morning, I make the decision to go
Vote.
Even though it feels like too big of a decision
For a little 18 year-old with a blond ponytail
To be a part of--
 
I go after babysitting
          Drive down the street
          ​Go to the community center I workout at
          Sign in with my driver’s license
          Get my ballot
I read the referendum once,
Twice
I pick an oval
Vote.
Get the little sticker
Take a picture of it in my hand
(But don’t post it anywhere)
Drive back home to mom
Sit down on the couch next to her
Proud.
And think about the choice
I had the choice to make

ADELE DUMMERMUTH is a student at Coe College, majoring in Creating Writing and Rhetoric. She enjoys writing poetry and short stories, along with sending random haikus back and forth with her dad (inspired by Ricky Baker from Hunt for the Wilderpeople).

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