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Parkinson's triology
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Poetry by Bern.
Parkinson's. 1987
It started off my back did ache,
Then my hands began to shake.
My legs are heavy like lumps of lead,
Then a slight shaking of my head.
With eyes on the ground and head bent low,
Faster and faster, I did go.
Drinking tea from out of a cup,
Sitting down or getting up.
Writing a letter or signing my name,
To me now it is all the same.
Everything seems filled with pain.
It will not get better, this I know,
For Doctor Parkinson, tells me so.
So, If I freeze or shake a lot,
Please do not rush me , better not.
if I fall flat upon my face,
Pick me up it's no disgrace.
I'm not crazy when I look,
Like some character from out of a book.
When I dribble like a child,
My face a mask like something wild.
Please do not think that I am insane,
It is just that Parkinson again.
in my own inimitable way,
I take my tablets every day.
Sinemet and a lot more,
Better count them just to make sure.
When the Doctor say's to me,
You are doing well, That I can see.
I think my thoughts one by one.
With a lot of prayers for Parkinson.
When next you see me, Please don't stare,
Just look and smile, I know you care.
Do not try to help me, Let me be,
For Parkinson does not bother me.
When my voice is very low,
It won't get louder, I'll have you know.
So listen carefully when I am spouting,
My whisper to you is really shouting.
As I type every day in the two old finger way.
My thoughts stray back though the years,
Trying to sort out all my fears.
Is it something that I have done,
That has given me this Parkinson.
So Dear reader, if you suffer too,
My only words of advice to you.
Get up and about, don't sit and mope,
Trust in God , Don't give up hope.
For one day there will surely be,
A cure for you and a cure for me.
Diagnosis
You have Parkinson's I heard the Doctor say,
Was he talking to me as he looked the other way.
Of course I did not believe him, who would,
So I went to another Doctor as I thought I should.
I tried not to shake or nod my weary head,
I tried not to think of what the other Doctor said.
He told me to cross the floor to the other side of the room,
Turn round and come back, this really sealed my doom.
With hesitating steps I toppled on the way,
I re-crossed the room to hear what he had to say.
Lay yourself down on the couch and close your eyes,
Now move your index finger to your nose, I had another surprise.
My hand did not obey me at least not straight away,
Why the heck I hesitated, I really cannot say.
He told me to pull some faces but my face muscles had no power,
I was shaking all over in the space of one short hour.
Now shake both hands held out at arms length,
I shook my right hand my left had no strength.
He asked me many questions, I answered as best I could,
My soft voice betrayed me, as I knew it would.
You have Parkinson's, I am sorry to have to say,
I still did not believe this but he eventually had his way.
He sent me into hospital just for observation,
I now fell apart much to my consternation.
I fought against this monster, I as stubborn as a mule,
Until I learned to accept then I felt really cool.
But I was a fool for feeling so cocky bold,
As I was quickly shown that Parkinson has its hold.
Spell after spell in the hospital of my choice,
With logopaedy training to strengthen up my voice.
Depressions came a long it was a bitter blow,
Thinking thoughts that no-one ought to know.
Years passed, hospitals were becoming part of my life.
Pain came and went after cutting like a knife.
A new drug, SINEMET is its name,
Life is much better after taking of the same.
In all my sixteen years of living with this thing,
I truly had some one that made my heart to sing.
A care giver my lovely lady wife,
Always cheerful, caring, she has saved my life.
When I am down in the dumps, depressed,
Who’s loving hands help me to get dressed.
She bathes me, she feeds me, sees to my every need,
Shaving me, caressing me, a Care-Giver indeed.
If there is ever a cure, I am sure that it will come,
I will ever praise her for all of the work she has done.
Now to finish off my tale of my Parkinson shakes,
Let the cure come quickly for all our Parky sakes.
A Parkie's Day.
Take my tablets pull myself out of bed,
As usual my feet are like lumps of lead.
Stagger to the bathroom my bladder very full,
Wait for the relief as I feel the well-known pull.
Have a good hot shower to take the stiffness away,
Ready for my breakfast to start another day.
My Lady Wife has shaved me to make me look smart,
This is when my shakes threaten to pull me apart.
I feel very tempted to take another Sinemet,
But I won't give in, at least not yet.
Start the computer read my e-mail post,
This is what I like doing the most.
Other Parkies have written to me,
Makes me feel like part of the family.
I read of compassion and the feelings of care,
That the other Parkies want with me to share.
If there is anything that I need to know,
Advice will come my way and I feel a warm glow.
Pains in my neck and also in my back,
Sometimes so many that I begin to lose track.
With my walking stick clutched tightly in my hand,
I totter down the street, my face trying to look bland.
At our favourite coffee shop we order coffee and cake,
They kindly give me a straw, as they know my hands will shake.
Then back home to prepare for the midday lunch,
With the soft kinds of vegetables, that I can slowly munch.
My lovely Lady Wife cooks those things that I like to eat,
Shaking hands struggle to fork that pre cut meat.
After lunch I go off to my bed to have a little sleep,
The stiffness and pain make me want to weep.
Then another Sinemet, wait until it takes affect,
Hoping that there will be no bad after-effect.
Then we have our tea and discuss the daily news,
And other little things such as buying some new shoes.
Take my evening tablets dreading a sleepless night,
My lovely lady hugs and cuddles to me up tight.
With a bit of luck I drop off to sleep.
With my prayers said for all the people that I know,
Wait for the morning light that comes ever so slow.
On to another day with Parkinson in my way,
How I wish for my youth when life was just play.
