PLAYING GOD
Your face looked grey this morning
(grief does that)
and thin, too.
So much thinner than just a week ago -
when we all chatted brightly
about morning sickness
and Christmas trees.
A tiny little week ago,
when a child to be
still danced in your dreams.
Down syndrome.
Those words stung like a stone.
So easy to make decisions
when it's not happening to you.
So very VERY hard to choose
when options are thick with shades of grey.
Like your dear face this morning -
all grey and thin
as you knocked at the door
with smudges under your eyes.
Tracy
Hello Alison ,You may remember me from PH , this is a touching piece.
Hello Alison ,You may remember me from PH , this is a touching piece.
eleanor prince
I'm moved by your tender caring and compassionate understanding expressed so beautifully
I'm moved by your tender caring and compassionate understanding expressed so beautifully
Bob Blackwell
Written from the heart this one Allison, a friend of mine in his eighties has just returned to the UK after living in Africa for over fifty years. His wife died last year, he goes back to the land of his birth with his son Patrick who has Down Syndrome. Patrick is a happy man in his forties. We cannot play God but take life as it comes and live it happily.
Written from the heart this one Allison, a friend of mine in his eighties has just returned to the UK after living in Africa for over fifty years. His wife died last year, he goes back to the land of his birth with his son Patrick who has Down Syndrome. Patrick is a happy man in his forties. We cannot play God but take life as it comes and live it happily.
Meggie Gultiano
this is a very touching piece...so beautiful.. this brought me to tears..
this is a very touching piece...so beautiful.. this brought me to tears..
Kannan G
A very touching poem which speaks well of the powers of endurance and love. Life be however tough is invariably meant to be lived with life. Wish you and family a very peace-filled, love-lit, successful and joyous Christmas and New Year.
A very touching poem which speaks well of the powers of endurance and love. Life be however tough is invariably meant to be lived with life. Wish you and family a very peace-filled, love-lit, successful and joyous Christmas and New Year.
Susan Jarvis
Oh, Alison, only you could tap into the sheer magnitude and emotional burden of 'playing God' with such compassion. This poem makes the dream of a child so beautiful and the loss of that child so tangible. A poem that lives, breathes and says it all, with a huge maternal hug.
Oh, Alison, only you could tap into the sheer magnitude and emotional burden of 'playing God' with such compassion. This poem makes the dream of a child so beautiful and the loss of that child so tangible. A poem that lives, breathes and says it all, with a huge maternal hug.
Philip
This is an astounding piece of work Alison.Tears in my eyes.A heart touching work.Much enjoyed.
This is an astounding piece of work Alison.Tears in my eyes.A heart touching work.Much enjoyed.
robyn selters
You well describe the incredible impact of such news... Compassionate and insightful write
You well describe the incredible impact of such news... Compassionate and insightful write
PrEmJi PrEmJi
allie, i am wordless...
allie, i am wordless...
erik99
A moving piece. I love the way you use different meanings of "grey" to underline the terrible choices involved.
A moving piece. I love the way you use different meanings of "grey" to underline the terrible choices involved.
nimal dunuhinga
I do not like moody Gods,but playing God I admired. My fair Lady brought us a rare gift after a little lull!
I do not like moody Gods,but playing God I admired. My fair Lady brought us a rare gift after a little lull!
sonetta
the title says it all...it's never easy playing God--we can only hope we never have to take the role ourselves, and if we have to, hope others will be understanding and compassionate....
the title says it all...it's never easy playing God--we can only hope we never have to take the role ourselves, and if we have to, hope others will be understanding and compassionate....
magnolia
You write this poem in a pure non-judgemental style,I applaud you...my 16 year old nephew is Downs, and a delight to have in my life. Maggie x
You write this poem in a pure non-judgemental style,I applaud you...my 16 year old nephew is Downs, and a delight to have in my life. Maggie x
JoAnn McGrath
Aw....I have a downs brother...and they are the most happiest positive people on earth...such disheartening news for the holiday
Aw....I have a downs brother...and they are the most happiest positive people on earth...such disheartening news for the holiday
Ency Bearis
A poignant poem. Such with touch to its write, a great one.
A poignant poem. Such with touch to its write, a great one.
Sandra Martyres
Such decisions are truly painful - a very touching write Allie - you bring out the lost dreams and the hurt in this poem in such a humane way..in your own inimitable style
Such decisions are truly painful - a very touching write Allie - you bring out the lost dreams and the hurt in this poem in such a humane way..in your own inimitable style
wombat
Sometimes it is not enough to wish one could hold another's hand. I would though. Sad how things sometimes turn out.
Sometimes it is not enough to wish one could hold another's hand. I would though. Sad how things sometimes turn out.
David Taylor
Dear Alison, thank you for this poem, yes from a distance it is easy to talk about the "rights" and "wrongs" but faced with the reality of an unborn child in the womb, how devastingly real. My heart goes out to your friend.
Dear Alison, thank you for this poem, yes from a distance it is easy to talk about the "rights" and "wrongs" but faced with the reality of an unborn child in the womb, how devastingly real. My heart goes out to your friend.
Munia Khan
Dejection can be enjoyed sometimes if it is well written.This is a very wonderful poem Allie..You touch every cord of the reader's heart with this great piece of poetry.Very wonderful.
Dejection can be enjoyed sometimes if it is well written.This is a very wonderful poem Allie..You touch every cord of the reader's heart with this great piece of poetry.Very wonderful.
Kamala
The poem fills in the great melancholy mood...breaking the shades of grey the sunlight of spring should come up....engrossing write indeed Alison...bookmarked.
The poem fills in the great melancholy mood...breaking the shades of grey the sunlight of spring should come up....engrossing write indeed Alison...bookmarked.
carol
sadness and hurt in this poem is heartfelt
sadness and hurt in this poem is heartfelt
Fay Slimm
The heart goes out to any in this dreadful predicament of making such choices and such compassion shown in this piece, unhindered by judgement, shines through every tear-stained line. Sensitive handling of difficult subjects has long been your own special domain Allie but the outstanding empathy in this verse outshines previous work. A heart-wrenching read.
The heart goes out to any in this dreadful predicament of making such choices and such compassion shown in this piece, unhindered by judgement, shines through every tear-stained line. Sensitive handling of difficult subjects has long been your own special domain Allie but the outstanding empathy in this verse outshines previous work. A heart-wrenching read.
Ken e Hall
Very meaningful poem....which brings the 23rd of Dec when my eldest daughter was run down on the road....prior to this 25 yrs passed with special care...now we go daily to visit my 95 yr old mum-in- law in Raffles an old age care place ..beautiful place beautiful caring staff for Alzheimers and old age.. I have permission to take Beaujangles our blind poodle at xmas who will know her with his nose....phew all this from your poem Thanks and merry xmas...regards
Very meaningful poem....which brings the 23rd of Dec when my eldest daughter was run down on the road....prior to this 25 yrs passed with special care...now we go daily to visit my 95 yr old mum-in- law in Raffles an old age care place ..beautiful place beautiful caring staff for Alzheimers and old age.. I have permission to take Beaujangles our blind poodle at xmas who will know her with his nose....phew all this from your poem Thanks and merry xmas...regards
bogpan
Awesome!!!
Awesome!!!
oskar
a tender thoughtful poem
a tender thoughtful poem
Claire Bircher
One of the hardest choicest, either decision is wrought with anguish, grief and guilt, and hardship, eventually acceptance. You tell this story not from the position of one who opinionates either way, but of one who supports no more what. The final images are haunting and affect the reader far more than any subscribed to beliefs that would sway.
One of the hardest choicest, either decision is wrought with anguish, grief and guilt, and hardship, eventually acceptance. You tell this story not from the position of one who opinionates either way, but of one who supports no more what. The final images are haunting and affect the reader far more than any subscribed to beliefs that would sway.
Hello Alison from me also. Just to say hello and feast upon more of your heart touching words... Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing