This poem authored by a 16 year old girl was written in the days leading up to the appointment to abort her unborn child. After the abortion the girl gave the poem to her mother, who has kept the poem in her purse ever since (quite a few years now). This poem has been given to me in the course of our outreach activities for the 40 Days for Life in Montreal. The mother hopes that this poem, written in the midst of pain in regret, will touch the hearts of both women and men who are considering abortion, and help them choose life for their precious child. There being no title, I have entitled it "Innocently you wait". 

Innocently you wait

Today was the day I found out you're alive
I felt a joy, yet it made me cry.

I suppose it hasn't hit me yet,
But I know you're there.
This I cannot deny.

You are inside of me,
Yet the man I love is in you.

Innocently you wait, growing off me,
For you do not know the destiny which awaits.
I wish it did not have to be this way.

I regret being so selfish.
If only I could have used my mind
To admit that you could happen.

It is not your fault,
You did not ask to be,
Yet you will pay the price.

I haven't even seen you yet
And I don't know if I will,
But I love you more than life
And don't want to do this to you.

Sometimes I secretly wish
That this option didn't exist.

I don't want to lose you,
But others want me to.

Why am I listening to them?
What do they have to do with you and me?
I don't know.

Innocently you wait, growing off me,
Not knowing the destiny which awaits.

I will never forget you
For as long as I live,
But only a vague memory you will be.

I try to convince myself it'll only take a second;
It won't hurt you,
But I know it's not true.

All you want is a life,
But I'm not worthy to give it to you.

I am sixteen and a murderer
And the victim is you, my own child.

Very soon you'll be gone forever
And I won't be able to look back.

I don't want it to be this way,
But I have no choice.

I wish we could have met someday.
I would have fed you, cherished you, loved you
And held your little hand
To let you know everything was all right.

But I know this could never be.
I'm so sorry, Baby.
I love you for life.

-Anonymous