Parkinson's Reveille
- Jarlath Busby
- Apr 2
- 1 min read
Alison, this one might be appropriate.
Parkinson’s Reveille
As I wake my shaky hand waves and greets me, Hi
Like the class swot catching the teacher’s eye
Is it frightened it has slipped my mind?
My affliction’s daily incessant grind
I look across and smile at her slumbering eyes
And cuddle her gently as she softly sighs
Is it possible I am the man in her dream?
This Parkinson’s wreck with low self esteem
I’d love to sleep as our bodies entwine
But my hand drums a staccato beat on her spine
So I roll away and every muscle feels stuck
A tear moistens my cheek as I curse my luck
When I lie on my hand, my leg takes up the beat
To some silent tune I’m tapping my feet
No chance for long lies and lazy hugs
My body won’t wait on the first dose of its drugs
I would try and ignore it but during the night
My torso’s been borrowed for Tyson to fight
Hit like a punchbag and then my legs used
By a marathon runner, all as I snoozed
The worst part of Parkinson’s, it’s hard to tell
Each day’s a smorgasbord of symptoms from hell
No-one likes self-pity, better move this body of mine
Shake a leg! Carpe Diem! Rise and feckin’ shine!
This is so recognisable- most mornings I wake up in a world of pain. Stiff muscles and sore joints and I can’t wait to get up because moving is the only way I get relief but then I have to wait for the drugs to kick in.
Raw and honest this a great poem to share for world Parkinson’s Awareness. Thank you Jarlath.
Such a sad poem Jarlath, but so true. It is a struggle to stay positive and look at what we have got and not what we have lost. Thanks for sharing