Somewhere at some time
They committed themselves to me
And so, I was!
Small, but I WAS!
Tiny, in shape
Lusting to live
I hung in my pulsing cave.
Soon they knew of me
My mother —my father.
I had no say in my being
I lived on trust
And love
Tho' I couldn't think
Each part of me was saying
A silent 'Wait for me
I will bring you love!'
I was taken
Blind, naked, defenseless
By the hand of one
Whose good name
Was graven on a brass plate
in Wimpole Street,
and dropped on the sterile floor
of a foot operated plastic waste
bucket.
There was no Queens Counsel
To take my brief.
The cot I might have warmed
Stood in Harrod's shop window.
When my passing was told
My father smiled.
No grief filled my empty space.
My death was celebrated
With tickets to see Danny la Rue
Who was pretending to be a woman
Like my mother was.
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Comments
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From guest susan (contact)
Hmm...i don't think this poem is wrong, i think it is very true but i was reading some of the comments here and i don't think people realise that people have abortions for all kinds of reasons, some people have medical conditions where they have to have a termination and it breaks their heart and haunts them forever. It is not in any case an easy decision for anyone to make however i'm sure the person making the decision always makes the right one for them at that time in their life, even though it seems wrong. Very moving. -
Wrong
From guest Sileas (contact)
I am not commenting on the skill of the author, as the poem is certainly very good. However, I find that the content, and in particular the very last two lines, absolutely horrific and very wrong.
Comment edited - personal grievances not relevant to the poem -
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I agree with guest Sileas, Milligan is deliberately painting a horrific picture here. No matter how commonplace a surgical procedure becomes it is a horrific violation of the body (in this case two bodies).
He is, I believe, trying to make people think deeply about the subject.
Whatever our individual views on abortion I am sure that this poem will at least cause the reader to think about the subject and that is what the writer intended.
Jim
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From guest Shanice (contact)
This poem is one i am currently studying for my English essay! It is a great poem and I feel that Spike is telling the truth, people dont often consider what it would be like for the unborn baby. People who are going to have an abortion should Definitely read this , and then consider if its the right choice! I loved it, and it brought a tear to my eye. -
From guest Bob (contact)
As people are wondering if this is still taught in schools the answer is YES. I am in a top English class doing my Standard Grades and am studying this poem at the moment. -
jac
From guest jac (contact)
i would just like to say i to studied this poem some 17 yrs ago and was best mark i ever got in english, i feel strong against abortion past year 2 of my friends have had a termaation this poem keeps poping into my head. spike milligan certainly had a gift. -
From guest Rebecca (contact)
I was about 15 when this was studied in English at school (13ish years ago). I hope this is still taught in school - perhaps it would help to prevent unwanted pregnancy and break down the culture of using abortion as contraception. -
Spike is a Catholic and [obviously] a man. The mother's life is to be valued more than that of the unborn child.
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Oh so good, so deep, so real.....Love it
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i love spike's work, i have some books here by him and some old tapes of him
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I first read this poem over 2 years ago, having re-read my comment and with a newer, hard-earned view of the value of life I feel that Spike's words carry even more weight now than ever.Life is to be valued at all costs.
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Really Moving
From guest Gemma Collins (contact)
I am currently writing a critical essay on this poem which is truly moving. My whole entire English class was brought to tears when we first approached it. -
Due
From guest Louisa (contact)
I am due to have a termination and this made me weep for hours. I hate it because its so true and I hate myself even more. -
From guest cletcha machnovaha (contact)
my daughter was born at 25 weeks and i find it disgusting that a week erlier i could have had an abortion ... i loved this poem and it brought me to tears ... i think anyone thinking of getting an abortion should read this poem ... it would defenitly change their minds. -
English
From guest English Class (contact)
I'm choosing to do this poem for my english folio as i think it is utterly fantastic! really moved me! -
utterly ravishing
From guest betrisha byers (contact)
i have never read anything like it in my lifeee..almost took my breath away -
touching
From guest jan allen (contact)
i first read this poem when i was a young teen, its last few lines have been so meaninfull alll my life, a truly heartfelt understanding of life -
Unto Us
From guest Nick (contact)
I read this first as a teenager too. I still can't read it without crying. It is incredibly powerful. That final line has massive impact. -
From guest Kevin (contact)
This is a poem I read when I was a teenager and was amazed at how a powerful effect it had on me at such a young age of 15. -
Power of words
From guest Ismail Patel (contact)
A small but such a powerful poem... I wonder if it has changed peoples minds on the issue of abortion! -
From guest Anne Gillan (contact)
an outstanding piece...i remember a favourite English teacher showing me this poem, it was and still is the most emotive poem I have encountered. -
Cool
From guest james leask 2k7 (contact)
As an Int 2 pupil, I thought this was a great piece. It reminds me of my childhood! -
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This is a generalisation of a foetus with a voice. It's a sad beginning a rapid end to any chance of life and it's obvious that Spike was an anti-abortionist , without the placards and the circle-walking outside clinics, but in his own special, subtle yet smack in the eye way with empathy in great measure for the unborn child. The Father 'smiled' when told of the fate of his child and then went to a show - cold-hearted yes but the Mother I feel shouldn't be judged too harshly - Spike refers back to a time when unwanted babies had such a stigma attached in Britain, the pressure on her would have been immense, perhaps to much to bear.
As usual Spike hits his reader right in the face, not laughing this time as he was so famous for but it shows he was a very caring man and had something to say in his very subtle way. Brilliantly written
Von -
From guest ciara (contact)
what is the significant moment which reveals the central idead of the poem? -
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For me it is when the Doctor (Wimpole Street plate) gets rid of the foetus/embryo. It stopped being a hymn to birth and became a plaint of death.
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well i think this is a very reflective poem.the feelings o the fetus are really clearly shown and although i agree with many people who say its teh choice of mother to do it but i do have to say after reading this poem thst the mother should think very carefully before doing it because the fetus Is a living thing anyway.and the families who can afford having child should never do abortion,they can even give the children in soem kind of trust but should never kill them.
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I'm sorry, this still doesn't help me see the "light" of anti-Abrotion. Spike Milligan, bless him for otherwise, in his personifation of a fetus (or simmilar) does not make me feel overly sorry or make me feel in any way inclined that Abortion is illigal.
It is of the woman's choice to have an abortion. It's her responciblity to do so within 24 weeks of the pregnency, yes but the right to choose exists. -
I read this poem because one of my friends said it was his favourite poems it totally changed my veiw on abortion!I know think it is soo sad and is almost a form off murder. It has really changed my veiws so i would like to thank Spike Milligan for that .
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Amazing!
This is sad, but excellent. It's a change from the usual humourous, light-hearted style in many of his other poems. One of my favourites. -
9/10
No errors do I see. This is another somber piece. At first I didn't know if you were talking of a 'human' or an 'animal' yet, reading it I would say both - emotion wise. 'You' being the 'human' and 'your' 'mother' being the 'animal'.
A great piece writ.
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