which heartbeat

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Susan L Daniels

let the world know
that Rosa is dead

this child holding
in her body a life
10 weeks in the forming
both doomed
at her diagnosis

the right to life
is inviolable

16 years/13 weeks

which pulse,
whose movement
do you choose
to extend

from the moment of conception 

I would choose
for Rosa’s mother
a gift of days,
maybe just hours
but life spent
counting down the minutes
breathing together, and loved

and until death

they both die
whose heartbeat
mattered more

13 weeks/16 years

Rosa is dead
let the world know

I am a mother
& a poet

I do not make laws
or decide

I have only questions
& this anger

they died minutes from each other
let the world know

they are both dead

Unknown's avatar

About Susan L Daniels

I am a firm believer that politics are personal, that faith is expressed through action, and that life is something that must be loved and lived authentically--or why bother with any of it?
This entry was posted in New Free Verse and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

19 Responses to which heartbeat

  1. kateshrewsday's avatar kateshrewsday says:
    August 18, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Susie, this was the most profound poem. Thank you.

  2. nelle's avatar nelle says:
    August 18, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    You say it so well and succinctly.

  3. Rhonda's avatar Rhonda says:
    August 18, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    You have a link to this story Susan? This breaks my heart

  4. boomiebol's avatar boomiebol says:
    August 18, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    Powerful. Going to check out the story

    • Susan L Daniels's avatar Susan L Daniels says:
      August 18, 2012 at 4:04 pm

      Thanks, Boomie. Sad all the way around.

      • boomiebol's avatar boomiebol says:
        August 18, 2012 at 4:06 pm

        Just read it…shame on the government over there…hypocrites many of these fools are.

        How does providing necessary care for a patient become a minor issue to some self righteous law…shame on them

        • Susan L Daniels's avatar Susan L Daniels says:
          August 18, 2012 at 4:08 pm

          Yes, I agree. The story is heartbreaking. Chemotherapy in her case would have extended her life, perhaps just a little. Time for Rosa and her mother. Some closure. I am sickened and saddened by this sacrifice of humanity to an idea.

  5. doncarroll's avatar doncarroll says:
    August 18, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    very powerful !!:)

  6. Bruce Ruston's avatar Ian Moone says:
    August 19, 2012 at 5:55 am

    I agree very powerful and sad

  7. readinpleasure's avatar readinpleasure says:
    August 21, 2012 at 10:08 am

    A sad, needless and senseless death. My heart goes out to Rosa. It reminds me of the Jehovah Witnesses who are against blood transfusion. A promisning student in the institution where I work died because her family were against blood transfusion. A powerful poem, Susan

Comments are closed.