From The Womb: Called Or Culled? Poem by Daniel Partlow

‘In the womb I knew you’ – from conception our souls are known.
‘In the belly I formed you’ – Creator of our flesh and bone.
But what do we do with the souls that He has sown?

What God has created – let no one put asunder.
His command is as clear the crashing of thunder:
He calls us all to honor His creative wonder.

For the souls, callings, and even personalities are formed prenatally:
Like the twin fetuses Jacob and Esau who grappled incessantly
He bestowed their souls at conception, as body formed physically

Isaac was formed in Sarah’s body and from conception was ordained
To father a great nation as Gabriel to Abraham explained.
In that one single embryo – a great eternal nation was contained.

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim: the time of their physical birth
Had no meaning for the eternal Lord of Heaven and all the Earth.
No relevance upon their blessing… and yet we place the entire worth…

Samuel and Jeremiah the Prophets and yes even Sampson strong and tall.
Were called to serve the Lord from their mother’s womb… as are we all.
Given up for adoption: Samuel grew-up and answered the Father’s call.

The unborn babies of Elizabeth and Mary which God had created,
At the approach of the tiny embryo of Jesus, the Baptist fetus was elated.
The Eucharistic flesh and soul - eternal life itself had been initiated

Abortion is perhaps the greatest judgement on modern society.
For the loss of a foetus is described as the just curse for infidelity.
When we break our covenants – we condemn our posterity.

Fetuses are clearly our children and God calls the killing of our progeny
An abomination - which devalues motherhood - the ultimate misogyny.
Both Men and Women trading in God given roles for prideful androgyny.

The promise of God’s blessings, on a mother’s womb does rest.
But when we reject His gifts – we deny that we’ve been blessed.
So both father and mother celebrate, unite, and let true thanks be confessed.

Fear of the unknown and the future is not what God bestows.
Have faith that He will provide for your needs as the little one grows.
He cares for you much more than you may suppose.

Let us not abort our souls in the pursuit of worldly pride and sin.
But let us birth our spirits to the Lord and invite the Holy Spirit in.
That all fruits of the womb and faith may be upon us and our next of kin.

For if you agree that life and soul proceed from God and are a benediction
Then their destruction is an act of disrespect and irresponsible dereliction
So welcome the bond of parenthood and treat it not as an affliction.

Become not a wretched disciple of Molech - sacrificing your infants
The land shall eject in violent vomiting fits all such inhabitants
And great will be the wailing and sound of their laments.

The hearts of some have clearly turned away from the Lord.
The Creator is forgotten and abhorred - who instead should be adored.
The reaper’s bloody scalpel stands as a sign of the revocation of reward.

This culture of death is an infection which continues to fester
Heal us oh Lord with love for your gifts from the first to last trimester.
And let not thy people-in-embryo be subjected to Lucifer’s molester


(2007)