Adoption poetry

from: bastards.org

Poetic Correspondence:
A moving interchange between adoptee and birthmom
by Meredith Tallis (DrSorrows@aol.com) and Mary Anne Cohen (maireaine@hexatron.com)

- POEM NUMBER TWO -
by "Dr. Sorrows" (unedited by the BQ staff)

I am truly sorry you feel the way you do.
Everyone makes mistakes, but the forgiveness and love is all people want to
give to you.
I am not sure why you're so scared of being known about or why you think
adoptees are only thinking they will use you.
If I ever have the chance to know my mother, I will be there for her with
open arms and take care of her with lottery winnings, love and honarable
thanks too.
Nothing evil is supposed to come from people's mistakes and wrong doings in
adoption.
Everyone has the right to happiness reguardless of the things that have
happend in the past when there was no other option.
Adoptees will not hate you for what has happened in the past.
Biological parents need not be ashamed and should not be fearing the unknown
being known.
Those who wish to fear the unknown may be losing out by hiding the truth and
much more that is now grown.
Do you honestly think you're the only one who has made a mistake or had
something happen to learn from?
NO YOU ARE NOT and adoptees know you're not to blame nor will they treat you
like scum.
The fear of the unknown is in many people's hearts and lives.
Just because one is an adoptee wanting to know its true history story, does
not mean you will be hunted down with knives.
Accept the gratitude of thanks and forgiveness your biological child has to
offer too.
There is no need to worry about kinds of hatred since all they want to do is
say, I LOVE YOU!
Copyight © Meredith A. Tallis, 1999
DrSorrows@aol.com

Birthmother MaryAnne's Response to Dr. Sorrow's # 2:

Oh wondrous adoptee and all-forgiver
I love you more than boiled chopped liver
When it is ground and pulverized and put through a great big nasty meat
grinder
meaner than the worst psychotic biological mother-finder
I'm so relieved that you don't want to kill me, or tie me up in your cellar
and torture and beat me and do unspeakable things like you do to meat to me,
and then hang me out to dry with a noose from the highest tree (stuck full
of nails and made to eat dirt, oh)
All for leaving you under the poor box at St Aloysious Church, oh
my...I was a bad mummy, but you understand, and will not hunt me down with
knives, or put a curse upon me to give me hives, or cut off my ears and
stick them on a pike--nor will you tell me to go take a long hike
off a very short pier
since I am your own mommy dear, and I'm sorry I threw you in front of that
truck--any mom can make mistakes, and I was down on my luck, and I'm sorry I
tried to sell you for bingo cash, I know I do deserve the lash, But biology
is stronger than dirt, and even if you've been hurt,
thank you and big gooey kisses and hugs
for not putting salt on me and watching me dissolve like a slug

Your poem was "number two" but I'm a bigger turd than you
could ever be to me, in "number one" I swim, until that last Big Flush by
that eternal Hand Of God does me in
Oh babe of mine, oh little itty sweetie one

Heartfelt love and thanks for not treating me like scum
And most of all when you make those obscene calls to my home,
For calling me "mum"

(((((((((Big Claustrophobic Smothering Hugs)))))))))))))))......yer mummy

Feel free to pass this anonymously on to poetry lovers everywhere........

* * *

Meredith Tallis is an adoptee from Arizona. Mary Anne Cohen is a birthmother who surrendered in 1968, active in adoption reform since 1975, Co-Founder and newsletter editor of Origins, past American Adoption Congress (AAC) Board member and Education Chair, member of CUB (Concerned United Birthparents) since its inception, Lifetime Member of Bastard Nation (BN). Mary Anne is also a poet and artist, mother of three sons whom I raised, married, BA in art and psychology, and keeper of many cats.

(This feature appeared in the Winter 99/00 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)

Topics: humorous, adoptee poetry