Legacy of an Adopted Child Poem

Before you, I recite one poem, Legacy of an Adopted Child, with two different versions. The first one is relatively popular within the adoption community and I personally love it. The second one, I found recently online through a website. The person who posted it is a Korean adoptee, but they posted it for a friend who revised the poem and wanted to remain anonymous. Both are beautiful, but have heartbreaking and opposite messages. Feel free to share what you think either poem is conveying in the comment section on my website's blog page or on Facebook. I hope you enjoy this read.

Version 1 - Author unknown

Once there were two women who never knew each other, One - you do not remember, the other you call mother. Two different lives shaped to make yours, One became your guiding star, the other became your sun. The first gave you life, and the second taught you to live it. The first gave you a need for love and the second was there to give it. One gave you a nationality; the other gave you a name. One gave you the seed of talent; the other gave you an aim. One gave you emotions; the other calmed your fears. One saw your first sweet smile; the other dried your tears. One gave you up - that's all she could do. The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you. Now you ask through all your tears the age-old question through the years; Heredity or environment - which are you a product of? Neither, my darling - neither - just two different kinds of love.

Version 2 - Revised by adoptee

Once there were two women

who never knew each other,

One - I mustn't remember,

the other I must call mother.

The inequality between their lives created mine,

The first one gave me life

The other saw me live it.

The first one gave me the need for love,

The other one failed to give it.

One gave me a nationality,

The other took it away.

One gave me a seed of talent,

The other gave me her aim,

One gave me emotions,

The other gave me her fears,

One heard my first cries,

The other one hid my tears,

One gave me up, did she have a choice,

When the other woman's prayers were stronger than her voice?

Now I ask through bitter tears,

the question asked through many years:

Heredity or environment - which am I a product of?

Both, mommy dearest, both,

Because and despite the lack of love.