I Could Have Been by Mark Spencer

I could have been a doctor,
or perhaps an engineer.
Even a politician
could have been my choice career.

I might have been a writer
and written many books.
Or been a super model
and lived off my good looks.

I could have been the home run king
or the greatest running back.
I might have run for the gold
upon the Olympic track.

Yet these are things that cannot be
for one without a voice.
Some have said I'm not alive,
and I do not have a choice.

No case was ever made for me,
that could weather this distortion.
So I must pay for their mistake,
while they justify abortion.

They say it is their body,
they claim it's not a sin.
To take away all that I am,
and what I could have been

Mark Spencer (205.188.209.7) -- Thursday, February 13 2003, 10:43 pm

Its easy.
Its easy to write poems about subjects that mean nothing. Fanciful tales like THE BARD or THE UNICORN flow out of me. THE VISITOR touches on controversial issues like reincarnation, good and evil, salvation, love, life and divorce. A HERO NAMED RAY points out the kind of bigotry that black sailors were up against in World War Two. The difference between blacks and whites who served in the military at that time, was that whites were fighting for their freedom, while blacks were fighting for second class obscurity. There was a lot more to motivate the whites. Some blacks felt (and rightly so) that if Hitler won, would they be treated any different by him than the way they were already being treated in their own country and by their own military? I know that a few will hate me for that poem. This work however, many will hate me for this. Those that still try to sell that garbage that abortion is the right of the mother. In some cases, I feel it is necessary. When a pregnancy is life threatening, or if it came of a violent crime like rape. But it is being justified as a means of birth control! Oops, forgot to practice safe sex again, think I'll go get an abortion! Or, my boyfriend or husband and I broke up and since this baby represents a relationship that no longer exists, why don't I go have an abortion. Well, this is where I stand people! I'm no self righteous, bible thumping right-winger, but somebody needs to take a stand for the victims of this kind of birth control. Until it stops, we will never know what THEY COULD HAVE BEEN.

Martin Vann (63.208.45.250) -- Friday, February 14 2003, 01:51 am

Had the seed been allowed to grow, tell me, what would if have offered?
I know how love can turn from a beautiful flower to a razor sharp catus patch, don't you? Yet, both have beauty and meaning, regardless of the seed, don't you think? Poets, are we weak, do we just disguise ourselves when we know other poets will read our words? I don't think so, a true poet will say what he/she has to say, let the world be damned if, they don't agree. I speak with words that in other lands, could be a sentence to prison. Why, becuse my words, they don't fit the current administration. Go to Cuba, have a cigar, I'm not through yet, and will re-breath your smoke, if that is what it takes to say my piece. Rembrandt, Pablo Picasco, Van Gough, starving and rediculed, that did not stop them from painting life's truths, ddid it? We all know the answer to that, their works are worth millions, people lie, cheat and steal, just to have a piece of their work. Why? because they were truly masters at presenting truth from the heart and against such masters, no one else could compete. Their strokes of life revealed magic, while we, some of us, showed only the ability to buy canvass.

Oh, the beauty of the flower, unlike the cactus, the beauty is in the flower, something we pre-conceive, I think.

What about the god given gift of rain, we can sense it, before we feel it, and we await its arrival with anticipation, but we can not recreate it, and we have tired. Somethings I think, are best left to God.

The farmer would agree, don't tell me it will rain, let me feel it, then I will know it is true and my crops will grow. From this field I will feed thousands, fresh bread, corn, tomotoes, oh thank God, for the life of rain, the rain of life.

I ask you this, regardless of the nature of the planting, can we not eat the corn, tomatoes, view the paintings of Rembrandt, Picasco and Van Gough. Yes, I say we can. Millions, bilions of us can, but without the seed, the rain of life, there is no growth. The farmers field is barren, the painters canvass blank!

Its not my decision to let the seed grow, it is yours, but we need fertile fields to feed fertile minds. I ask you where will we be, if we don't let life grow, to plant whatever it has to offer, within our fields of sole, mind and heart.

My answer is life, I see no progress offered by death, just an end to what could have been. But its not my call, its yours? I just wonder, "what could have been."

MartinV

LinzAy (152.163.201.197) -- Friday, February 14 2003, 08:22 am

......
Very good poem. With an awesome message about abortions.And i must say that i totally agree with you here on this one Mark. Abortion shouldnt be recognized as some sick kind of birth control.....in the ways you described them as far as past relationship leftovers or unsafe sex mistake. I'm not sure if i even think its rite for someone to have an abortion after being raped...although that child would bear some horrible memories for the victim. But then again, those who were pushed against their will to have sex and were impregnated and decided to have an abortion, do have a right to make this decision. I'm just someone against it still bc i love kids, and know the joy that they can bring to ones lifeeven if ur not ready for them....and i also know the problems they can bring, and bc i personally wouldnt have an abortion....ever. I think my perfect little brother has influenced me more on this subject. I could never see how my life would be right now without him if my mom had decided with Sean being a perfect mistake "well 3 kids r enough...not enough money o room or anything for one more" My life would be so incomplete right now it wouldnt even be funny.
So anyways! Yes....i totally agree with ya here Mark.

keyonna farrell (165.247.97.53) -- Saturday, February 15 2003, 09:48 pm

The messanger
Your poems sends such a positive and truthful message about abortion.Think about what some babbies will become when they grow up,because they got a chance to live,because some one took the time to read your words.

Lori Ann Day (198.81.26.137) -- Friday, February 21 2003, 11:38 pm

Mark, you speak for those who do not have a voice, and God is thanking you for allowing yourself to possess His tongue. Remember, no one can take away the future of another without having been given a past.

Mark Spencer (205.188.209.7) -- Tuesday, February 25 2003, 11:30 pm

legislating morality.
Understand first, that I do not believe in legislating morality. Whether or not this is an issue of murder isn't for me to decide. That is between God and those who avocat abortion. I'm sure God understands one mistake, when made by a woman who feels regret for that action. It is very likely that she will never have another. She therefor has repented. The definition of repent at the time the bible was translated into English was simply "To go the other way." Man's laws reflect what will be tolerated by the human race and usually go unforgiving when broken. God's laws are issues of morality and what He knows to be right and wrong. Those laws reflect what He will tolerate, which doesn't leave a lot of room for error. The difference is, God is more inclined to forgive than we are. He always knows when regret is sincere, and does not condemn those who learn from their mistakes. Therefore, the issue should be left to him, while those who condemn should focus on their own imperfections. Thanks to Martin, LinzAy, Keyonna and Lori Ann. I hope those who read this work will understand it as they did. I hope, if you are considering an abortion, that this piece will give you pause for reflection. Because you won't be aborting a lump of tissue. You'll be ending a life, along with the promise of all he or she could have been.

Mark

Lori Ann Day (198.81.26.137) -- Wednesday, February 26 2003, 01:47 am

An alternative for a woman who has been raped could be to have the child, and give it to a loving family. Then she wouldn't have to deal with memories that are as bad as abortion. I have talked to women who have suggested that karma is paying them back for having an abortion because they have met no one, and have not been given the chance to have another. God does not punish this way. As Mark says, God forgives if a woman is sincerely sorry, but oftentimes the woman finds it almost impossible to forgive herself counting the years her child would have been.

Jessica (10.147.14.94) -- Wednesday, September 3 2003, 05:57 pm

no title
Hey My name is Jessica and I am 16 and i am a junior in high school. I think abortin is wrong! People say that the fetal is not alive but that is not true. Has any body really done any research on it, if you had then you could find out when a baby's heart begins to beat. At that moment the baby is alive it is a human being. Even right after that baby is concieved it is alive a human being! How would you feel if you wasn't here. If you wasn't here to see this beautiful world. YOU was a victim of abortion!!??!!

Ashley (65.162.43.198) -- Sunday, November 16 2003, 08:16 pm

Abortion is Wrong
hey my name is Ashley and i am in the middel school and i am soing a projec on abortion. Abortion is worng its the killing of a inoccent child. They should not have sex if they cant pay what sometimes coems out of sex. they need to use alot of protection if they dont want a child! How would you like it if you were not here today?

Ashley (65.162.43.198) -- Sunday, November 16 2003, 08:17 pm

Abortion is Wrong
hey my name is Ashley and i am in the middle school and i am doing a project on abortion. Abortion is worng its the killing of a inoccent child. They should not have sex if they cant pay what sometimes coems out of sex. they need to use alot of protection if they dont want a child! How would you like it if you were not here today?

Lauren (67.165.88.109) -- Saturday, March 13 2004, 02:06 am

Abortion
I think abortion is wrong. It is murder. You made that baby and from there right from the start you should love it (snip)

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