An undiscussed, unappreciated cruelty
Earlier today I came across a poem written from the perspective of an unborn child to its mother, when the mother decides to have an abortion. And, like almost every piece of pro-life propaganda I have encountered, it wasn’t coming from a place of reasoned logic or sensible argument, but from the most sickening appeal to the basest of emotions.
And so, in response, I give you a similar poem. A poem from a child born to a mother who doesn’t want it, can’t take care of it and hates the very sight of it. Because I figure if the people who think they know what is best for you can use emotional blackmail, why can’t the people who think YOU know what is best for you do the same?
(More commentary at the bottom)
Month one
Mommy
I’ve been lying here all night,
crying and crying and crying
Why aren’t you coming?
Why aren’t you here?
Month Two
Mommy
I’m cold and I’m wet.
I’m hungry and I’m scared.
I know you can hear me,
so why aren’t you coming?
Why aren’t you here?
Month Three
You know what Mommy
I don’t like the smell
on your breath.
When you come up and scream
at me.
Why don’t you love me?
Month Four
Mommy
I’m sorry I made you mad.
I’m sorry I made you hit me.
I’m sorry that I woke you up,
but I needed you
and you weren’t here.
Month Five
Mommy
I can’t move my arm,
it hurts from where you broke it.
I can’t move my leg,
it hurts from where you burned it.
I can’t move my stomach,
it hurts from crying
I’m hurting and alone.
Why aren’t you here?
Month Six
I’m falling asleep,
I’m cold.
I’m falling asleep,
I’m hungry.
I’m falling asleep,
I hurt.
I’m falling asleep,
and you aren’t here.
Month Seven
Mommy
I am okay.
I am in Jesus’s arms.
I know you didn’t want me,
but people said you must
I know you wanted to save me pain,
but people said you couldn’t
I know you wanted to let me go,
but people said it was bad
I know you were made to have me,
by people who knew better,
I know your life is ruined,
by people who don’t care about you,
I don’t blame you, Mommy,
you weren’t given a choice.
"I think abortion is a tragedy. I think it should be safe, it should be legal, and it should be a whole lot rarer than it is now."
This is a quote from The West Wing, and pretty much sums up my general position on the topic of abortion.
There is a general perception amongst certain groups that anyone who supports a woman’s right to chose is a knife-wielding maniac who would gladly terminate ten pregnancies before breakfast, and another twenty immediately after.
But in my whole life, I have never met a pro-choice advocate who comes anywhere close to being such a horrible stereotype. And I have never met a pro-choice advocate who has ever tried to talk someone in to having an abortion against their will.
They are, instead, like me – people who think that once the woman has made that decision, it is not the place of a stranger, or even a friend, to bully them in to changing their minds just because our beliefs might conflict with theirs.
I think it should always be safe and legal, and always be available to those who feel they need it. And that it should be up to the mother – not the government, not the church, not interfering busybodies who think their views are all that matter. And that if a mother wants to make the choice, it is her choice, not anyone else’s.
But I also think the world would be a better place if less women were put in that position. That with proper family planning, with proper education of the young, with better birth control and better education in general, then fewer women would be forced to make such a heartbreaking choice.
"I think abortion is a tragedy. I think it should be safe, it should be legal, and it should be a whole lot rarer than it is now."