~ by Kateri Athanasius
Warning: Discusses sensitive issue of abortion
Marching onward
with no end in sight
The silent warriors praying
For a stop to this “right”
Surely, they reason
This cannot remain so
The decision made
They pray it will go
“Today it’s okay
For the innocent to die?
Since when does the law
Ignore the cries?”
The enemy advances
Invading and taking charge
The people take a stand
Too stop the giant at large
The opposing gain ground
For now a new fortress
Is there to be found
And along with that fortress
comes all the sorrow
Of the children who won’t experience
The day of tomorrow.
This she shrugs off
And walks in anyway
To find out the truth
And how much she has to pay
Seated in a chair
With a positive test
To schedule an appointment
That will take care of the rest
The silent pleading
And the ongoing prayer
She gives the cold shoulder
To those who really care
“How many days
Must I deal with this ‘thing’”
That’s how much she reduced
The gift from the King
The woman to whom she was speaking
Opened up a book
And wrote down the girl’s name
Told her how long it took
“No one has to know
What you are doing
They can’t make you
Do something you’re rueing”
She took their advice
And signed off on the page
Ignoring the question
Concerning her age
Inside she was crying
And so very scared
If her mother found out
She wouldn’t ever care
In fact, she thought
She would tell me I’m right
This thing inside me
Won’t be worth the fight
And so she left
With her cheeks stained with tears
Her body a wreck
And left with her fears
No one to tell her
That she’ll be okay
All she had left
Was a voice trying to stay
She walked to her car
And got inside
He would bring her to his house
Where she would reside
A victim of crimes
And no way to get out
She was too afraid
To let loose a shout
So now as she rode
And watched the people pray
She wanted them to help
She wished that they may
The day of the sentence
Drew closer and near
Her ‘thing’ was growing
And becoming very dear
She told him her thoughts
And for that she cried
He would kill her
If the thing didn’t die
Shaking and sobbing
She walked in again
The place seemed dreadful
And she had no friends
Years she had been hidden
Away from this world
Kept in a house
Where she couldn’t be heard
Now given the chance
To run away
She feared he would find her
And force her to stay
They told her she’d be alright
That things would be fine
Then they put her to sleep
So she wouldn’t whine
An hour later
She awoke in pain
Her baby was dead
What had she gained?
He took her back home
And tuned out her screams
As the baby she destroyed
Haunted her dreams
All this happened
Because of a law
No one cared for the girl
And too soon she would fall
The armies of people
Praying as one
Hoped things would soon change
And the race would be run
A man joined their forces
After he found out the news
That his wife of ten years
Was changing her views
He wanted to save
The child inside
But she was saying no
And left his side
So much had changed
He had reasoned
Since the days when they were young
Was it the change of the seasons?
He talked to the police
And he pleaded his cause
But as a father
He was told to mind the laws
No one would care
That it was his boy
That she wanted dead
Like he was a broken toy
His voice wasn’t heard
And he mourned his loss
As she told him the news
His child was thrown out like moss
And so the enemy
Claimed another life
A baby destroyed
Purely out of strife
The legions of souls
Pleading for an end
To the war on these children
What more could they send?
Roses began to cover the ground
Petals and thorns together
The symbolism sharp
A reminder of the lives lost forever
She entered with no mind
To take life away
But her mind was changed
When she heard what her parents had to say
“You’re a failure,
you’ll never go far
All our money and dreams
Fed to the gar”
So pressured and angry
She ignored the petals on the ground
And crushed them beneath her heel
No love could be found
How dare these people
Try to end her right
To make a decision
Not start a fight
She cursed their names
And shook her head
Those people, she decided
Shouldn’t have gotten out of bed
And again the opposers
Destroyed a love
A child that was a gift
From heaven above
The people were saddened
And nearly turned away
Nothing they did
Could change this way
The thousands were falling
And millions already had
Yet many average people
Found no reason to be sad
After all, why would they?
To them it wasn’t a life
Nor a child at heart
They wanted to decide
When life would truly start
But still they persisted
And joined in their prayers
With those not yet born
to show their cares
Mommy, please say no
This isn’t the way I want to go
Daddy said he wants me to stay
Please don’t make me go away
I have my whole life to live
Please listen as I pray
My angel tells me I shouldn’t be scared
But I worry you don’t really care!
Mommy, please know that I love you
And I want to live!
I really do…
A heart was changed
And a child saved
A drop of white
In a black, empty cave
The war goes on
Unending murders and kills
All bending to the choosing
And what the woman wills
The fight goes on
And the warriors never tire
For inside them burns
A lifegiving fire
She walked from her car
And knelt down on the ground
Her knees cold and wet
But joy would abound
One day, so many years ago
She had been one to say
This wasn’t the way to go
But now, as she joined the cause
She hated to see women
Put life on pause
She wept for their lives
And for those lives that the ended
She wanted to be able
To have them all friended
For she knew in her heart
That all it would take
Is someone to listen
To all the heartache
When she made her choice
At the age of fifteen
No one told her
What it would really mean
She was alone
And had nowhere to turn
For she had a job
And had money to earn
Her family depended
On her willingness to work
And to care for a baby
Not a day could she shirk
So she silenced her cries
And thought she was being brave
All the while
There was a life she could have saved
Brought back from her memories
She noticed a sound
So slight and quiet
It was hard to be found
But it was the crying
Of a woman who was scared
Who needed a friend
Or someone who cared
Up from her knees
And she ran down the lane
Finding a girl
Hiding in the rain
At first ignored
And then told to leave
She asked what was wrong
And what did she need?
The girl wiped her eyes
And took a step towards her
“I need to get away”
Then she began to shiver.
A few more minutes
Of careful listening
And the story she found
Was most interesting
This girl was but twelve
And thrown out of home
Sent to the streets
Where she could roam
Her parents were mad
And her boyfriend no good
She was pregnant and upset
“Could you help me” she could.
A wound that was healed
And a smiling face
The woman received so much
Much more than just grace
Still, though all this joy
There’s no seeming end
To the killing of girls and boys
Hope is being lost
And joy thrown out
What is needed now
Is someone to scream and shout
A young girl
Took this task upon herself
And took lots of books
Off the library shelf
She studied on her own
Until she knew
Enough to say
Only what was true
But all too quickly
Her confidence wavered
They ripped her apart
Like a country road paver
She resolved to try again
And this time be strong
All the while the thousands
Lost in the wrong
Praying and fasting
Is what they were told
Would help bring an end
To this evil, not of old
They joined hand in hand
And so formed a chain
Standing outside
In the wind and the rain
Some turned away
When this they saw
Others just ignored them
And liked the law
They pleaded to have
The praying removed
But the police found
There was nothing they could do.
It was perfectly legal
To gather and pray
So, to the abortionists dismay
The praying could stay.
It became the “new normal”
For some to curse
The lives of the prayerful
And attack their free verse
Such people like this one
Who were lost and alone
They did not know better
All they did was moan
She took up her stance
Holding her sign
Against the praying
Fighting against time
Her mother and family
Backed her up
They chanted and screamed
But someone asked, “what’s up?”
A kind young fellow
With a rosary in hand
Approached the crowd
This wasn’t planned
He looked at the girl
And then to her sign
And asked her this question
“Do you have some time?”
The girl was confused,
but ready to defend
Her points of view
This man’s view mend
“What do you want?
My mind is decided
I’ll talk to you
But no change is provided.”
The young man nodded
And just smiled to her
“I won’t change your mind
I just want to hear your answer.”
And so the two talked
For over an hour
The conversation was cut short
By an April shower
But by this time
The two were smiling
Laughing at a joke
Over the atrocious tiling
They shook hands
And parted for the day
But emails were exchanged
They had much more to say
Days like this
Happened more frequently
When the young people stood up
And spoke their view gently
But still, the ongoing war
With battles raging forward
The end it somewhat near
But there’s a lot to work towards
Manning their stations
With weapons in hand
They have a constant vigil
Over the whole land
Some go out
And nobly speak to the crowds
Sometimes they listen
Other times they are run out
Others will sit
At their computer desks
And write up articles
That tell of the rest
These reach far and wide
With today’s technology
But still not enough
To hold the raging sea
So many more stories
of the lives lost today
3700 are missing
That’s 3700 more than yesterday
The souls of the lost
With the cry of those being destroyed
rips at the hearts
Of all the girls and boys
They plead for their life
And wish for a chance
But no one can hear them
And they get speared with a lance
Sometimes though
They indeed survive
But then left on their own
They have no choice but to die
Unwanted by some
Loved by many
These little ones are finished
Thrown out like a penny
The workers and such
Who stand there all day
Leading women in
Just interested in their pay
One lady went in
With a sting in mind
To see if the truth
Could come out, she’d find
Her story was woven
And her tales so tall
But in the midst of these lies
It seemed very small
She got the evidence
Needed to condemn
And soon it went global
Attacking them
They tried to deny it
But the evidence was clear
Although nothing much
Could be done, as was feared
And so went the years
With silent pleas
To make this evil illegal
They were on their knees
Foundations were formed
And businesses started
To open the doors
To those not so close-hearted
One choice to save
A decision to live
She walked into the welcoming doors
And was glad she did
They comforted her tears
And told her not to worry
She smiled and felt safe
The months passed in a flurry
And proudly she came
Back one day
With her child in her hands
And thanked them for coming her way
A change was beginning
Could the tide turn?
After all these years
For what would these people yearn.
They watched yet another
Young girl walk in
And they shed her tears
As her child was thrown in a bin
Her mother had made her
And for year after year
She could hardly sleep
So great was her fear
The face of her child
Lost in the night
She ran and ran
But found no light
Seeking forgiveness
And wishing for love
She turned to the Church
And prayed to Above
It took many years
But soon she could say
I’m ready to move on
From that fateful day
This girl was blessed
And found a love so true
Many children had she
And many more smiles, too
But always, that thought
In the back of her mind
Made her turn away
She couldn’t release the bind
Joining hands with the others
Now growing to many
They prayed and they wished
For the children who seemed worth less than a penny
The voices of those
Who couldn’t be heard
Blended with all
And helped the hearts turn
Listen to us
We beg and we plead
Let us stay living
Give us a chance to breathe
Mommy and Daddy
Don’t destroy us all
But give us our days
To jump in the leaves of fall
Unanimous cries
And singing hearts
Making their way
It’s a good start.
Little children came out
With their mothers in tow
They wanted to see
The prayerful row
Each day more were lost
Yet a few were found
The minds were turning
Turning right around
All to often they watched
The child taken away
But the occasional joy
Of the one who got to stay
Legislators began
To pass some new laws
That helped greatly
This life giving cause
Still not enough
And just more cause for worry
As the enemy approached them
In more than a hurry
“Repeal the laws”
“Give us our rights”
“You can’t tell us all
How we live our life!”
Calmly and quietly
The speakers refuted
The claims of those
Who were so soon uprooted
Annual events
Soon came to be
Where people as a Nations
Prayed with a great need
They marched the Capitol
And swarmed the streets
With organized chaos
To the enemy, greet
Showing their faces
With great pride
They waited for a president
Who would take their side
Still, the waiting
Has been going on
And things have gone worse
As the days have been done
Still choosing death
Over a natural right
That was granted to us all
When this Country first came to light
He wanted to stop her
But there he stood
With his little child in his hands
He wasn’t welcome in this neighborhood
How silly, he thought
That I cannot bring her inside
When the one carried by my wife
Can go in their to die
Why can’t I take
My little one as well?
To help convince her Mamma
The other one is swell
He banged on the door
But his words were ignored
As he waited outside
The thunder began to roar
Defeated at heart,
He retreated to his car
Where he could take shelter
From the rain coming from afar
In the midst of the storm
He saw a small light
Outside his window
Burning bright
At that moment,
He was certain he knew
His little angel
Was in heaven, it’s true
Head in his hands
He began to cry
And picked up the little girl
Saying, “Don’t you dare die.”
Onlookers watched
As this scene unfolded
Their prayers hadn’t been answered
Fate was already molded
Why didn’t his voice matter?
He wondered later that day
As he sat in the Church
Trying to think of what to say
He lost his little baby
As though it wasn’t his
And now he had to try
To love and forgive
Onward they marched
Each year, early on
To show support
For the ones unloved
Braving the snow
And ignoring the ice
They walked as one
Their meaning concise
Moving as a Nation
To show the whole truth
Of the terrible crimes
Allowed to take roost
Over and over
For years this has gone by
And still the law is in place
No one hears the silent cries
They think it’s for the best
That this remain a choice
But when did we have the right
To silence someone’s voice?
A country of twisted tales
Mixed with plenty of lies
Is what we have become
As our original Constitution dies
How long until once more
Freedom can reign
And all will be pleased
Can we be that again?
Candles float on the lake
As a sad and silent reminder
Of the millions gone
They thought it to be kinder
Other places have flags
In pink and blue
A vivid way to remind us
What we have done, it’s true
And still others
Will give up their voice
For just a day or so
To make their point
They bring to the surface
What happens to those
When the doors to the buildings
Don’t remain closed
Over a million a year
In this place alone
How can we ever
This behaviour, condone?
A troubling time
We have entered in
And so is this the start
of something much too big?
They look at the flag
And think of what it means
Then look at the Nation
And see the crushed dreams.
Clashing swords
Made of plastic and ink
The goal in mind
The other ship to sink!
An endless battle
Of wits and wills
All the while
More innocent blood spills
Ceaselessly murdered
For no fault of their own
Never will they
Know the comforts of a home
Some say it’s better
For them to not live
Than to live the life
That the parents could give
Such words and sayings
Many take to heart
And make the decision
To rip life apart
She ran to the clinic
To escape from her fears
Of the man she lived with
Who often brought her to tears
The child was growing
And she didn’t want it alive
Because then she’d have to care for it
And she’d sooner die
When offered her options
There was but one
She took it and all too soon
The deed was done
The bullets flew
Swift and fast
With so much against them
How can these laws last?
A tragic tale
Yet ringing out true
And young people ask
“Well what can I do?”
They’re scared to stand up
Because of what could go wrong
But with leadership
They’ll go right along
Still though, fears reign
Is it enough, or is this in vain?
Will there ever be a day
When the killings and murders will go away?
Marching forward
In an endless line
The people take a stand
All of the time
The end is getting closer
Finally in sight
When enough people stood up
To do what was right
It’s still an uphill battle
But the way is clear
WIth praying and speaking
The day shall draw near
Changing a mind
And touching a heart
Helping others
Sets them apart.
A kind word
Or gentle face
Could save someone
With ease and grace
They looked at her eyes
And told her no lies
She didn’t have to do this
Because doing this she despised
One took her hand
And lead her across the street
Where she would be met with kindess
And smiling faces would greet
They would care for both her
And the baby inside
Keeping both mother and child
Happy and alive
Cheers went up
From the surrounding crowd
As with a choice for life
Joy will abound
The battle is still going
But the tide has turned
The people are changing
And freedom for all life is yearned
Until that day comes
When victory reigns
And even thereafter
Prayers shall be said again and again
Especially now
When times are most trying
People are worried
About the children dying
And onward the soldiers marched
Forward with smiles
Their loving ways
Stretched for miles
The homeward journey
Would soon be complete
Then they would be done
And up off the streets
But the trials and toils
Gave them not a care
For hand in hand
They walked with prayer
No swords or guns
But with their weapons at hand
A string of beads
Against the law of the land
Some with their signs
Others with their books
Not caring at all
About all the weird looks
Onward they walk
Again and again
Until life shall win
And love shall reign once again.
The silent pleas
Have not been ignored
In fact, with the others
They are implored.
Souls of those
Sent to heaven above
Keep turning the hearts
So that all might love
Intercede on our part
And keep us in mind
As we hope to live
And see the sun shine.
Give our thanks to the ones
Who fight for our cause
Until the day
When truth reigns in the laws
Thanks be for all
Those fighting for life
And standing up for
All that’s right.
So ends this tale
But the battle is true
Protecting the next generation
Is a job for me and you.