March 26, 2005

Wishful Thinking

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) - Michael Schiavo's lawyer is disputing claims by her parents that Terri Schiavo is close to death.

 
George Felos says her "death is not imminent by any means." Felos says he saw Schiavo today -- and that "she looked beautiful." He says she appears "calm, peaceful, resting comfortably."

Schiavo's parents lost another court fight today, when a Florida circuit judge rejected another motion to replace her feeding tube. A family spokesman says that will likely be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

 
The family claimed Schiavo tried to say "I want to live" hours before her tube was removed, saying "AHHHHH" and "WAAAAAAA" when asked to repeat the phrase. Doctors have said her previous utterances weren't speech, but rather involuntary moans consistent with someone in a vegetative state.

Would we kill a criminal in this way

there would be incessant cries for justice

But now the judges blink

"She's beautiful," they are told

by others speaking for her

seeking to assuage concern

healing headaches with ice-cream

"and is dying with dignity."

as if starvation could be dignified

though self-willed it just could be

when choice has been removed

for expediency

it is no more than murder

slow and painful and sure

death

what would be said if she could speak

that her death is the desired outcome

cannot be questioned

that her life is a desired outcome

cannot be questioned

would that those in power would think for once

of someone other than themselves

of something other than finance

how can it be just

to break a pledge

how can it be just

to take a parent's child

how can we just sit

and wonder how it ends

she will not "just go away"

but will remain with us always

the outcome of this "situation"

will haunt us all our lives