Once upon a long ago
You were one whom I chose not to know
As year, however, passes year
Now stripped away is pride's veneer
Remaining still to ponder through
Everything I would have been for You
Short or tall, boy or girl
By now you'd be thirteen
You will bear no witness to this world
All your firsts shall stay unseen
Hugs go unfelt and feelings unheard
Your thoughts and aspirations to my eyes are blurred
Loving, questioning, humorous or absurd.
Discarded through fateful selfish choice
Your gift of life and love and voice
The regret is to want and forever have not
All You could have meant to me
What in all should there have been to be
Had not I, within youth and self been caught
Patrick W. Flynn writes from Pennsylvania.
by Patrick W. Flynn
Editor's note: About his inspiration for this poem Patrick Flynn says the following:
Thirteen years ago I made the wrong fateful choice. A decision that I will always regret. I have long since made peace with God regarding my decison. I have been made aware of someone close to me facing that decision. It caused me to reflect upon what I had done and all that I had lost in the process as a result of my decision. Everything that I threw away with that life is extremely poignant as I am since then a father of two healthy young boys.
