Ealier this week I was waiting for my husband to get off work so we could go meet Caleb and Gramma at the water park. Instead of sitting in the heat of the truck I went over to the library to browse and read my books. I was looking in the "new books" section and a title caught my eye: After Miscarriage. I picked it up and flipped through it. At the back was a poem called "A Different Child." At first I only read the first page of the poem and then realized it was continued on the back. I checked the book out so I could share it with my husband and Mom. I found it online and want to share it here as well.
You can find the poem online here. This was written by Pandora Diane Waldron.
You can find the poem online here. This was written by Pandora Diane Waldron.
A Different Child
"------for Madoka Marietta Rosalie, from your mother,
Pandora Diane Waldron*--------March 4, 1999.
A different child,
People notice
There's a special glow around you.
You grow
Surrounded by love,
Never doubting you are wanted;
Only look at the pride and joy
In your mother and father's eyes.
And if sometimes
Between the smiles
There's a trace of tears,
One day
You'll understand.
You'll understand
There was once another child
A different child
Who was in their hopes and dreams.
That child will never outgrow the baby clothes
That child will never keep them up at night
In fact, that child will never be any trouble at all.
Except sometimes, in a silent moment,
When mother and father miss so much
That different child.
May hope and love wrap you warmly
And may you learn the lesson forever
How infinitely precious
How infinitely fragile
Is this life on earth.
One day, as a young man or woman
You may see another mother's tears
Another father's silent grief
Then you, and you alone
Will understand
And offer the greatest comfort.
When all hope seems lost,
You will tell them
With great compassion,
"I know how you feel.
I'm only here
Because my mother tried again."
As I read the last lines I got tears in my eyes. After our miscarriage I was scared to try again. I was scared it would happen again, and we'd never hold a child in our arms. I was in such pain, and I didn't want to go through all of it again. But at the same time I wanted to try again and wanted to have a baby. Even though I suffered a great deal of pain during that time after the miscarriage, I wouldn't change it. God had a purpose and plan for us going through that. I'm thankful for those nearly 11 weeks with that first baby, the "different child," we never met.
This poem touched my heart and made me thankful for our sweet Caleb.
~~~~~~~~~
" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
9 comments:
What a precious, precious poem.
Thank you for posting this touching poem and your words are very meaningful. God bless you and your family.
what a lovely poem. thanks for sharing your heart.
So beautiful.
What a hopeful and thoughful poem to share... I have to read it again. And this time let my guard down. Those are not so fresh wounds...but when they are re-opened it can be so painful.
Thank you for sharing this!
God bless-
Amanda
What an awesome poem. I am grateful that you shared it with us...the last line is very precious...
Although I never miscarried a child, I know some who have.
(((hugs))) and love
I agree with you...such a touching poem! After 2 miscarriages & 5 years of marriage, my daughter gave birth to a healthy wonderful son. This was several years ago, & 2 more children have been added to their family since then. I'm so thankful they tried again.
God is so good!
Visiting from I Am Mommy, what a beautiful poem. Thanks so much for sharing.
I have a friend I would love to share this with, when the time is right.
Thanks and hugs
I am Pandora Diane MacMillan* (formerly Waldron), author of the poem, "A Different Child" written on March 4, 1999, which you have posted to your web site. My poem was originally posted to the Canadian SPALS mailing list - Subsequent Pregnancy After a Loss - www.spals.com and follows the SPALS Guidelines regarding mutual support, tolerance and diversity. I would encourage you to read the SPALS guidelines and if you are still trying to become pregnant or know a friend or relative in this situation, you would refer her to the SPALS web site.
This poem was written to tell Madoka Marietta Rosalie about the sister, Rhiannon Roxane, she will never meet, and to tell her how much she is loved and wanted. It is dedicated to Madoka Marietta Rosalie Waldron, and to all children whose parents will always miss...A Different Child.
*Since the poem was written, I have returned to using my maiden name, and now write as Pandora Diane MacMillan.
The poem also appears on FictionPress http://www.fictionpress.com/s/87202/1/A-Diffferent-Child. That copy of the poem states: "Dedicated to all who have lost a child and given birth to another much loved baby."
I would appreciate it if your copy of the poem would credit me as the author and include my original dedication with its postscript:
"------for Madoka Marietta Rosalie, from your mother,
Pandora Diane Waldron*--------March 4, 1999.
Remembering, with love, and not with sadness,
our Special Angel, Rhiannon Roxane,
who left this world 2 years ago today."
Yes, Madoka is very much alive and is now 13 years old, contrary to what some of you have posted, thinking that it was she and not Rhiannon who died. I'm sure you understand how uncomfortable it has made me that some of you have erroneously written that Madoka has died! Rhiannon Roxane died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at 31 days old. I deliberately did not include this information with the poem, because I was very much aware of all the other mothers, many of whom I talked to on SPALS, who have lost one or more babies to miscarriage, stillbirth, or other causes other than SIDS to infant death, and I wanted the poem to speak, with compassion, to all mothers in this situation.
If my words can bring joy, hope or comfort to others, it is in this way that I continue to honour the legacy of Rhiannon Roxane. Let your child's memory be a living one, sharing the love you gave with others, and not a cold piece of stone.
This then was the intention of my poem. It was never intended to be a political or religious statement. If you have associated my poem with political or religious views, I would respectfully request that you remove my poem from your web site or any associated web sites which espouse religious or political viewpoints.
Yours sincerely,
(Ms.) Pandora Diane MacMillan
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