HB2

poetry and visual art by Melissa Dias-Mandoly

HB2

an erasure of the oral transcripts of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt

with respect

the woman

with her—her access

But where

—in the language

She has come back

now, from

How many other people?

after

the woman is back

at home: the nearest nothing

the center

What they're trying to say:

the remaining

will lack

Justice: I want to know

go back in time

to the period

where will I find the doctor

Which were the women?

tell me their names,

and why

: that is not in the record

HB2

an erasure of the opinion of the court of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt

The “cost of coming into compliance”

for existing is significant

[s]ome unable to “comply

due to physical size limitations.”

The “cost of acquiring land

and constructing a new compliant.”

determined to seek abortion

admitting the right

of women to seek abortion

legally a constitutionally “impermissible access.”

HB2

an erasure of the opinion of the court of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt

First, invalidation by severability

say that “every provision, section, subsection,

sentence, clause, phrase, or word

and every Act are severable

from each other.”

if “any Act to any person, group

of persons, or circumstances

is found invalid,

all other persons shall sever

and may not be affected.”

language narrowly tailored

to remain open.

confront any meaningful scrutiny

But never with a command.

if It would be dangerous

a net to catch all possible inside

and say who could be

and who should be

substitute the government

(omitted)