Poem
they said
by sheila ganz
they said i had to go to a home for unwed mothers
they never asked me what i wanted to do
they said my baby should have a mother and a father
they never gave me a choice to help me see it through
they said the line on my belly would disappear
they never mentioned the wound in my heart
they said go on with your life and pretend it didn't happen
they never told me i would grieve all the years we're apart
they said i should be happy now that i'm free
they never admit my flesh and blood has been amputated from me
they said i could get married and other children would call me mother
they never said one person does not replace another
they said why worry she has a good life
they never listen to how the pain of not knowing cuts like a knife
they said it's against the law to search and find her
they never knew this was my heart's desire
they said she's still young and has other things on her mind
they never say you're getting older you've been waiting a long time
they said when she has children she'll want to know me
they never concede i missed sharing her life she never sat on my knee
they said if i loved my baby i'd sign the paper and leave that day
she said, don't tell me you love me you gave me away
(they said was written in 1994, and was published in the book To Prison With Love,
by Sandy Musser, 1996, and in adoption-related newsletters across the country including
The Communicator of Concerned
United Birthparents, Search
Finders of California and Kindred Hearts, 1994-1998
If you would like to contribute an essay to this website, please email your essay
to Sheila Ganz at unlockingheart@hotmail.com
© 2005 Sheila Ganz