There is a disease they call Parkinson
it’s symptoms are very clever
they appear slowly and silently
but grow and stay forever
It’s been with me now nine years
add 2 years more fermenting
the honeymoon’s drawing near an end
and I fear there’s no relenting
We’ve been asked to mark Parkinson’s disease
in whichever way we’re able
so I’m giving my two pennies worth
and putting it out there on the table
One day as I was pouring tea
a rattle of the cup alerted me
to what I thought was a nerve gone queer
never thought there was anything to fear
and whatever way I held a plate
that little shake my hand would make
the same as when holding a pen
just my right one now and then
but slowly my writing seemed to go
from fast and big to small and slow
what started off so tidy and neat
became a scrawl at the end of the sheet
it never bothered me to much at the time
still thought all was fine
until I started a college degree
then problems really hit me
I began to write the lectures down
but my arm and hand would not go round
as others sped across the page
I couldn’t get passed the title stage.
so on to the computer
I did try but my finger
couldn’t right click
and I didn’t know why
such everyday actions
like abc
were ceasing to work
and crippling me
anxiety came next said hello to me
and made himself at home on my knee
little did I know he had been biding his time
just the next symptom along the line
yes each one brought another
they came plenty and quick
but the strong lingering smells
were the hardest to stick
for whenever a strong smell
floated through the air
for days in the nose
that strong smell would repose
then as quick would go away
to come back another day
as strong as ever
oh that Parkinson was clever
forever in your airways
forever in your mouth
afraid to talk to anyone
case that dam smell would just pop out
or when you began to do a task
the concentration would go so fast
so onto another one you would flow
until a dozen tasks were on the go
do you finish them
no not ever
you just put into bags
and revisit them whenever
and when all are in bed
you’re up full of beans
night is day
to your brain it seems
but wait there’s more
your fingers keep locking
one leg ‘s going round and round
something shocking
your walking with your knees bent
your ankle thinks its twisted
your knuckles are swollen and lumpy
your hands are stiff and fisted
your neck and spine get weak
you try to move your feet
they talk about the cog wheel reaction
it feels more like you’re in traction
but that auld parki he’s so clever
he changes symptoms like the weather
so an ongoing mixture of this and that
can keep you up or knock you flat
then just as you thought
things couldn’t get madder
you’re in the supermarket
and you just can’t gather
what were you there for
what will you get
3 hours later and
you’re not finished yet
then fumbling at the checkouts
you’re trying to pack
but it’s all made worse
by the queues at your back
feeling so awkward
and very very slow
you’d love to shout out
and let everyone know
“I’ve Parkinson I can’t help it
I’m not what you see
I’m really quite clever
this is not the real me”
and just because you don’t see
me shake or sway
it’s cause the meds are
keeping those symptoms at bay
but it’s the ones inside
that no one can see
that are slowly stopping me
from being me
so if I look around
with a silent plea
please sense my need
and help me
for that parki pack
weighs heavy on my back
and like a clinging vine
It will grow in time
but keep looking for me
beneath that weight and clutter
i’ll be there amidst the
shakes, the swaying and the stutters
the indecisevness, anxieties,
the trails of unfinished tasks
the endless sleepless nights
and that miserable parki mask
and I’ll be laughing like I used to
and carrying the same dreams
I will still be that same person
I will not be what I seem ………