H.J. Shreeve (26/5/1987 / Hobart, Tasmania)

You were a product of poor environment.
You were given no chance,
You were given no hope,
Destined to be held captive,
In a prison of flesh and bone.

Children should play,
Children should laugh,
Children should explore new worlds,
You only knew of pain,
You only knew illness,
You only knew of despair.

No child should be as you.
No child is a machine.
I now look upon man in disgust,
For making you this way.

You were never kept by breast,
You were fed by machines,
Machines that kept you.
Once I saw you smile,
I know you knew of love,
My father kept you nourished,
My mother dressed you well.

I knew little of suffering,
I knew little of misery,
I knew nothing until I met you.
A child who couldn't speak,
who couldn't walk,
who couldn't read,
Taught me new worlds and possibilities.

Your final days, I couldn't watch,
I couldn't bend at knee,
I waited for the phone call,
To hear that you were free,
My dear child,
You were a product of poor enviroment,
You gave me a chance,
You gave me hope,
You have set me free!