Prayer Of A Fetus Poem by Sheela Toshili

Mother, father, my life depends on you!
let me live long
why be the murderers of my budding life?

Allow me to see the world; the good, bad and ugly
be caressed by wind, bathed by rain
warmed by the sun; the moon and stars for company

Ah! the heavenly fragrance of flowers, delicious food to eat
Browse through books and lose one selves in stories, poems
these joys are mine only if i live

Deprive me not the company of friends and pets
the touch of a loving partner, my own to love and set free
sigh! all these only if I'm born

Stop! Please stop the cold knife from chopping me to pieces
Let me be a loving, useful progeny to be proud of
heed my cries of pain as my eight week old body is sliced.