When we reflect on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, this poem is of particular relevance as we remember all of the victims of abortion.
“Unknelled, Uncoffined, and Unknown”
by Robert M. Palese
“As I went to throw the garbage bag away,
The refuse of one abortionist’s day,
My eyes did fall upon a fetus which
In months had reached about the age of six.
“It looked so soft and cute as it did lay -
By impulse I wrested it away.
Lord Byron’s words in my mind did groan:
‘Unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.’
“Those little eyes would never see a pup.
Those tiny hands could never grasp a cup.
The small, pink feet would never walk along.
The curved, sweet ears could never hear a song.
“I pressed the lovely fetus to my breast.
I knew that I must find it proper rest.
Again it seemed I heard a moan:
‘Unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.’
“I wrapped my dimpled fetus in a shawl,
As furtively I crept into the hall.
The doctor’s blood-stained vest was on the tray.
I sighed, for I could safely get away.
“The sun was shining brightly on the day
That I had picked to put my Jess away.
My grassy garden, green, seemed so well-fixed.
With marigolds and lilac phlox, all mixed.
“Some silver, Christmas bells I rang three times.
I seemed to feel that he could hear these chimes.
After my pup had licked the coffin blue,
I lowered it, so pretty and so new.
“I don’t know why the tears came to my eyes -
The rapid heart, the heavy sighs.
Sleep, my child, for I have shown
You have not died unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.”
This poem was composed by Robert M. Palese in 1990. According to Mr. Palese, it was published in the Illinois Right to Life Committee News in 1999 and, most recently, in an anthology by the International Society of Poets. We thank Mr. Palese for granting us permission to publish his poem on our website.