Poetry Corner


A DEDICATION written by Don Willcox 2005

A sufferer of Parkinsons and Arachnoiditis


LIVING WITH ARACHNOIDITIS

Written by Don Willcox


Oh what a tangled web occurs

When neuro-surgeon's judgement errs

And we poor souls now rue the day

When contrast liquid came our way


For our spines have had their fill

Of dreaded fluid Myodil

And in pain we all cry "damn"

When we recall our Myelogram


Now Meningal membrane mangled

Has caused scar tissue to be tangled

And within back's lumbar region

Has formed each painful nerve adhesion


The pressure on each nerve sciatic

Has had an impact most dramatic

Upon each person's tortured brain

Due to the resulting pain


Some surrender to it all

Some are climbing up the wall

Some for morphine pump will beg

Some seek solace from a keg


Some of us retain the hope

That with our ailment we can cope

Beneath life's brutal blows we cower

Pop pills and hop into hot shower


We spurn our woes and shun our pain

Treat each disaster with disdain

Learn every cunning coping trick

And give our miseries the flick


No matter how bad are our pains

We are the masters of our brains

For though we have Arachnoiditis

We shall not let this ailment blight us


This poem was written by Don for our meeting

at Warilla 11th September, 2005



ALWAYS SMILING AND FORGIVING

Written by Don Willcox


Just a pair of sparkling eyes

Just an upturned quirky smile

More joy than sadness I surmise

Upon her lovely wrinkled dial


Her eyes have seen a lot of woe

Strife and suffering and pain

In nearly 60 years or so

Yet her illness left no stain

Upon her fresh and youthful heart

More than what she gained she'll give

Of fear and hate she will have no part

But clings to the alternative


So my sweet friend here's to you

The world is better for you living

Just keep on doing as you do

Always smiling and forgiving


This poem was written for our meeting

at Blacktown RSL 29th January, 2006


THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A TERMINALLY ILL GIRL IN A NEW YORK HOSPITAL

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night

YOU BETTER SLOW DOWN.

Don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last.


Do you run through each day, on the fly?

When you ask HOW ARE YOU? do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores running through your head?

YOU BETTER SLOW DOWN

Don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last.


Ever told your child, we will do it tomorrow!

And in your haste, not seen his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,

Cause you never had time to call and say Hi!

YOU BETTER SLOW DOWN

Don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last.


When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss all the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day

It is like an upopened gift...thrown away.

Life is not a race, do it slower, hear the music

BEFORE THE SONG IS OVER!!!!!!