Poetry Corner
A DEDICATION written by Don Willcox 2005
A sufferer of Parkinsons and Arachnoiditis
Others may dwell on the deeds of those who excel
Or tell tales of folks who attain and always do well
But it's of the people in pain that I'd rather tell
The one who will keep up the fight though he falters and falls
The people whose pain's such a blight, that it truly appalls
The fragile who can't take to flight with their backs to the walls
Those folk in agonised pain who defy ther own fate
The persons who though under strain have humour that's great
The mob with a Myodilled brain, in such a sad state
Others may detail the deeds of their heroes so healthy and strong
The legend who always succeeds, the idol who seldom does wrong
But I tell of those with great needs, whose pain free times not very long
Others may share joy and jokes, and laughter and pleasure and pride
We have the stories of folks who smile though they're screaming inside
Who, though they be battle scarred blokes, limp on with agonised stride
I write of drug pump installations and constant consumption of pills
Of terrors and tortures and torments and suffering and sorrow and spills
of souls with unstoppable spirits, unbreakable wills
Others may herald the healthy, whose movements all follow the rule
Or postures and poses of wealthy, whose actions are stylish and cool
While I speak of those who are stealthy, persisting with pain that is cruel
I shun those whose happiness shows, with their glib witticisms
Or good guys whose radiance glows, with their blind optimisms
My tales are of those in the throes of their cruel paroxysms
I leave it to others to tell of people so normal and nice
My poems are of heroes in hell, with brains and nerves paying the price
Of this dread Arachnoiditis spell that has us all our souls in a vice
Others may stand out at sport and win at each wonderful game
While we with a pang may be caught, faltering on with our frame
Or when with pain we are fraught, might with loud curses exclaim
Theirs be the music, the laughter, the untroubled brain
Ours be from now till forever after, bodies in pain
Of sufferers whose spines have been smitten, whose nerves have decayed
Of these shall my rhymes be written, my poems be made.
A POEM BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
When you get what you want
in your struggle for yourself
And the world makes you a king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what the man has to say
For it isn't your father or mother or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass;
the fellow whose verdict
counts more in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass
You may fool the whole world
down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass;
But your final reward
will be heartache and tears,
If you've cheated that man in the glass.
TEN TOP TIPS
by Renee Goossens
1. KEEP AHEAD OF PAIN BY TAKING MEDICINE REGULARLY AND ON TIME.
2. HAVE ONE THING AT LEAST EACH WEEK TO LOOK FORWARD TO, CREATE IT YOURSELF IF IT IS NOT THERE, AN OUTING TO A MOVIE OR A CONCERT, LUXURIATE IN A WARM BATH, TREAT YOURSELF AND A DEAR FRIEND TO A CANDLE-LIT DINNER, LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF A BIRDSONG.
3. AVOID NEGATIVE PEOPLE. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU REALLY LIKE.
4. DO ONE THING FOR SOMEONE ELSE MOST DAYS - A PHONE CALL, A FAVOUR, KEEP IT SIMPLE, TAKE A FLOWER FROM YOUR GARDEN, SHARE SOMETHING NICE TO EAT, MAKE THEM A CUPPA.
5. STAY INFORMED ABOUT PROGRESS WITH YOUR CONDITION BUT AVOID INTERNET CHAT ROOMS UNLESS THEY ARE GENUINELY SUPP0RTIVE - ENSURE WHAT YOU READ IS WELL RESEARCHED.
6. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS, MUSIC, BOOKS, VIDEOS, PETS, CANDLES, SWEET PERFUMES.
7. TELL THOSE WHOM YOU LOVE THAT YOU LOVE THEM.
8. SMILE AND BE THANKFUL WHEN PEOPLE HELP YOU.
9. WRITE ONE POSITIVE COMMENT IN YOUR DIARY EACH DAY
10. CHANGE THE FOCUS FROM YOURSELF BY INVOLVING YOURSELF IN THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE YOUR LIFE SOME PURPOSE SUCH AS HAVING A HOBBY.
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