My Choice

The passionate product of a rather heated debate my friend and I recently had.

Do not ask me to change myself for you

Do not ask me to do this

To myself

To my body

To my future

And yes, this is my future too;

Though you might see a barely formed package of cells,

I see opportunity,

I see life,

I see something amazing

Something to love and to hold

Something to sing to sleep every night

Something to tell stories to,

to tease,

to tickle and to kiss and to cuddle

and to shelter when the winds blow and the rain comes lashing down

to protect when the storm rages and the going gets tough

Yes, where you see science

I see life

I am the girl

Who believes in that life

Who believes in children

Who believes in the people they become

Who sees miracles instead of chemicals

Pure, wonderful miracles

You would have me give that up

for a piece

of paper?

A pathetic scrap of butchered life

That

contrary to popular belief

Is not a ticket to happiness?

No, not to yours or to mine

Or, if not that, 

you would have me give something so beautiful up

for my reputation?

To impress strangers

People who don't know me,

don't love me,

don't really care who I am,

You would have me do this to myself

for them

for some social image

that can't embrace me

can't kiss me

can't fill my ears with the sweet sound of giggling

and love

and acceptance

No, I'll tell you where it's really at

It's in the innocence of a child's gaze

the way that little bundle of joy smiles up at you

the way it looks to you as if you were the only thing that powered the world

the way it loves you unconditionally

whether you deserve that love or not.

Children don't need to understand,

they just need to love,

and I would have that over a crowd of pretenders

of senseless expectations

of lies.

Yes, I would rather have one warm, wonderful child

than the cold sentiments of a hundred strangers

Some say

Happiness is a choice

Well, I am one of those

I am the person who decides when to smile

When to frown

Do you see me frowning now?

No.

No, because I am blessed with a miracle

My miracle

And whether I wanted it or not,

Whether you wanted me to have it or not,

I got it,

And now there is nothing you can do

to take it from me

No matter what you say

What you think

It doesn't matter to me

I am who I am

And I see what I see

and I choose what I choose

Just as you will not listen to me

I will not listen to you;

I will let these little cells grow,

Let them become what they were meant to be

Better yet

I will protect them;

I will give them the best I can give

And show them that the world can be kind and nurturing

That beauty and hope exist

That life is free and meaningful

Yes, I will make the choice

my choice

and no one else's

And it won't be easy

But that's what makes it all the more extraordinary.

This is my choice,

not yours,

and I choose happiness.

I choose life.

Author's Note

I am not usually one for politics, but there is always an exception to the rule. I do want everyone to know that I mean no offense or arguments, however. Just venting in the most pleasant way I know possible. :)

Reviews

[Kho-San]

I can feel a passion resonating from this poem, true belief in what the persona (who I'm guessing is you - the author - in this case) is saying, and a will to make the reader and the person being spoken to understand. However, whether they change their mind or not it will not matter, because the choice has been made, and happiness, life and a miracle is what was chosen. Though I do not want to pin this down to any one particular interpretation as there are many ways it can bee seen, I'm seeing a mother holding onto her unborn child, refusing the bribery of money and the ravages of a society which wants to see her give up the child due to it being socially 'distasteful'

I personally completely agree with the point presented, only in the most dire and life-threatening of situations should an unborn child be refused its life, and even then one should think once, twice, three times and more, for it is a choice which can plague souls for many years if not the rest of eternity.

A poem which resonates with passion and belief, and that makes it stunningly brilliant and thought provoking - a poem with a message.

[Kaylee]

Thank you so much for this review - absolutely wonderful, and certainly encouraging. I appreciate it :)

[Kho-San]

Keep up the good work ;D