The Convenience of Death

Happiness once lay in a person's demise.
One man's laughter was treasured in another's cries.
The truth was encoded in deceiving lies.

A woman's future lay in a single decision.
A man's freedom from consequences of carelessness lay there too.
Thus making a couple's utopia lie beyond it too.
How much more enticing and convenient an abortion.

A nation's liberation lay within one treaty.
Another's victory lay on the attacking side of an attack.
How honourable, victorious, glorious yet heinous an attack.
How comforting a war. Rewarding with a catbird settee.

When your first abortion results in your death,
Then, then - it'll be too late to realise
That the ephemeral convenience was a pack of lies.

Before the last drop of oil
Has been barrelled, when the sun is knocking
At your door. Then, then you'll be too late
To end that rhetoric war and turmoil.

Before the badge of honour has been beset
Upon you. Before you decide not to
Use that condom. Before you follow the
Rest of the sheep. Before all of that.

I ask you not to get things your way by expedient of death.

Siyaduma Noël Biniza

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Name	Comment	Date
Erna	I feel the same non-PC way about abortion. It’s a very difficult question. Your title is gripping. Your poem is passionate and deeply felt. I’ll have to re-read your poem a few times before I really understand it – but I think that there are a few places where your choice of expression &/or words make your poem hard to decipher, for instance: Before the badge of honour has been beset Upon you. I think you mean set upon Points: 2 needs re-writing	2008-01-02
James Tobias	There is the potential of an electrifying poem here, but is let down because it lacks the finesse that comes about from careful sculpturing. Is there a non-attacking side of attack? "Another's victory lay on the attacking side of an attack" A few examples. The end of these two lines is clumsy. "A man's freedom from consequences of carelessness lay there too. Thus making a couple's utopia lie beyond it too." Points 2 - This writing needs a bit of editing and/or re-writing	2008-01-03
Mandy	Siya, I have reworked some of your poem. You must try to be tighter on your words and capitalise on your rhythm. Here is what I suggest for the first few lines – Happiness once lay in a person's demise. One man's laughter treasured in another's cries. The truth was encoded in deceiving lies. Woman's future lay in a single decision. Man's freedom from consequence lay there too. A couple's utopia lies beyond it too, Making abortion convenient and enticing Let me know what you think A nation's liberation lay within one treaty. Another's victory lay in the attack. How honourable, victorious, glorious yet heinous How comforting a war. Rewarding with a catbird settee. Points 2 - This writing needs a bit of editing and/or re-writing	2008-01-03
Monde Mdodana	"...non PC way about abortion...difficult question." I appreciate your witty "humour" and your "neutrality" Erna; I think it's safe for a writer not to moralize. Points 3 - Very promising piece of writing	2008-02-15