Crossing the Bridge — Poem about Life Choices to Benefit Women’s Shelter
The Poets of Madison County anthology was created by Stacy Savage and Janine Pickett in 2016 to benefit Dove Harbor, a housing ministry for women and their children who have escaped domestic violence or some other crisis and are trying to put their life back together. I was honored to contribute to this worthy project.
My poem, Crossing the Bridge, is about choices we make in life. When I was a kid, I dreamed of going to Nashville to become a country music singer. My best friend and I made plans to go to Nashville as soon as we graduated from high school. But, as life often does, it threw a wrench in our plans.
I got pregnant and was due the same month we were to graduate. I had a choice to make. Do I ditch my dream, have the baby, and figure life out as I go along? Or do I get an abortion and carry on with my plans? It was an option I seriously considered.
I ultimately chose to have my baby, and I’m so glad I did. My daughter has grown into a beautiful woman inside and out. She has dedicated her life to serving others and the King of Kings. God knew what He was doing when He sent her here through me.
Being a teen mother wasn’t always easy. I often felt like I was growing up alongside her. While raising a child, my dreams changed. I no longer wanted to go to Nashville or be a country music queen. Still, I never gave up my love of music and poetic words. I just put it to use in different ways.
At first, I helped musicians and writers however I could as a way to stay close to music and the art scene, I suppose. Eventually, I found a more personal outlet for my love of words. Poetry with a cause!
Writing poetry to benefit charity organizations is one of my favorite ways to share my love of the written word. Music and poetry are closely related. I often write poetry inspired by music. I linked to three of them for you below that you can check out after reading the feature poem. ;)
Crossing the Bridge
by Kathy Chaffin Gerstorff
