To an Unborn Pauper Child (2012 Version)

Inspired by the work of Thomas Hardy and the welfare benefit policies of  Ian Duncan Smith and David Cameron


Breathe not, new child: abortion's free,
And though thy mother hath desire of thee,
Die in the womb,
Eternal  tomb,
For taxpayers are told that here,
Your cost should fill us all with fear.

Hark, how the peoples in despair,
Believe help for you is  just unfair;
In stone 'tis writ,
The deficit.
We'll  only save the world from endless strife
By bringing to an end your future life.

Had you the chance to hear this 'plaint forlorn,
Before you're from the  womb abruptly torn,
And 'twere your choice,
To have YOUR voice,
Then would I tell thee, 'Do not fret',
Your death will simply pay OUR debt!'

Vain hope! No word of mine may hence
To theeward fly: of this NONsense.
Explain none can
The Tory plan:
'Two babies only is it fit,
To hand out public benefit.'

Fain would I, child, admit  to you our shame,
That on your sacred head we now pour blame.
Your birth, your fate,
If soon, if late,
May serve to make our world a better place
And might eternally bless the human race.

But cold, unreasoning, such are we,
Brutal, cruel and mercenary,
Mankind should grieve
None will conceive,
That in indecent haste to cut our 'waste',
That humankind will ever be debased.