April 15 Ninety Six and Rising

I lay in bed watching as over ninety-souls passed away There was nothing I could do except cry upon that day I lay in my bed my sheets crisp and white As the doctor walked in and said ‘We take the foetus away tonight.’ I asked in a voice breaking, more of a whimper now it seems ‘You’re telling me my baby’s dead, the end of all our dreams?’ The death count was rising higher on the television screen But to me one more was added, my child as yet unseen The curtains pulled around the bed just opposite to mine Perhaps it was supposed to be private, but I heard them fine ‘Come now it’s time to say if you want us to abort Your weeks are running out now, and time is getting short.’ I looked at the screen no-other eyes seemed to see I saw two more lives added, no-one had heard my plea The count already ninety-seven and yet here was another one An unwanted baby, a mother unwilling to pay for her fun. Ninety-eight souls were lost on an that April day Only ninety-six are mourned, for ninety- six they pray But as I lay in my hospital bed, two more souls did die I wonder if she remembers on this April day I still cry. I stand and watch the, telly my two sons’ towering over me They kiss and say ‘See you later mum we’ll be back for tea’ I watch them tall and strong and give thanks to heaven above We tried against all odds and now have our sons we so love. © Mandy Tams 15/4/2014 A true tale and I use the word ‘unwilling’ in the correct sense, I was there and heard the conversation.