I will be participating in a poetry jam tonight and will be the second person. My poem is called INTERNAL MOVEMENTS. I’m very excited and hope you all will tune in. You can find the text for INTERNAL MOVEMENTS on this website. It the most recent post on March 23, 2023.
Here’s the link to the poetry jam. You have to register to get the zoom link.
https://pcla.org/event/living-artistically-with-parkinsons-poetry-jam-2023/
Inside the body, there is movement, Movement you feel. Seeing consequences, Due to lack of dopamine. Maybe a tremor, Maybe slowness, Maybe the body freezing, Maybe shuffling feet. Exercise is the secret, Living with Parkinson’s. Make big movements, Reach far, stand tall. Never understanding Swinging arms, giant steps. Until now. A wave of sensation Traveled through my body. Today, I felt and understood. I perceived a new awareness. Internally, I sensed, The body curling in upon itself. The body folding over , Squeezing the organs, the muscles Holding on with all its might. Internally, the body urges you to be still. Trying to take hold of your movements. Trying to make you freeze. Trying to stifle you. The internal draw of Parkinson’s is strong We can be stronger. We can move. We can walk. We swing our arms high. We take long giant steps. Walk tall. Swing your arms. Stand up straight. Walk with a bounce and lift. Resist the desire to slow down. Counteract, the drive to be still. In the stillness, there is no movement. Without movement, you become a statue. Just keep moving. Combat the internal tug. Make a pledge to keep moving. Defy the desire to be still. Yes, the fight is difficult and long. This is the battle we must soldier on. Our struggle, our journey Must not be wasted Must not be in vain.
Late in my life, My true love was found. That’s when I learned how love is profound. True love, gives you strength, when you feel weak. True love fights for you, when you cannot fight. When illness arrives, he stands by your side. He whispers so softly, you can get through. When your energy dips and fatigue wins the fight, he reminds you to rest. say good night. When you walk slow, he walks next to you. When movement stiffens, he will sit with you. He holds your hand together as one. Every breath and each moment, he will hold your hand. Through the hardest of days. through the toughest of times. in the present moment, he is there with you. When you need him, he is there. Walking beside you. holding your hand. Now that is true love always there. Staying true. Cheryl Wirtley February 2022
Silence
Holding hands
Hearts beating
In rhythm with mine.
Listen.
Silence stills us all.
Hear breathing,
In and out,
Inhale, exhale.
Everyone knows
How precious this moment is.
Silence is welcomed.
Fitting for this moment in time.
Listen,
Hear the silence
Hear the breath,
inhale, exhale.
Hear the heartbeats,
Thump, thump.
Alone, but together.
In our thoughts and minds.
Sadness stagnates the air.
Sadness seeps from our souls.
One soul has just arrived.
Another soul, preparing to leave.
Hearts thumping.
Hearts breaking.
Keeping us in silence.
We all whisper,
We wish this was not goodbye.
In memory of Norma.
Today, I am walking in the sunshine.
Today, I soak up the golden rays,
Today, walking is a pleasure.
Today, gratitude fills my soul.
Today, I remember,
Walking is a gift.
My feet carry me, urging me forward.
Today, all is forgotten.
How large are my steps?
Am I standing tall or am I bent like a flower?
Today, I pause and breathe, soaking in my exceptional gratitude.
Today, I walk
for the pure pleasure of walking.
Today, I walk with grace and gratitude
Pausing to breath,
The beauty of the field
makes me smile.
Another pause,
another breath,
remembering,
gratitude is everything.
Listen.
Be still.
Breathe deeply.
Take pen
to paper.
Listen.
Be still.
Breathe deeply.
Write thoughts.
Empty the mind.
Listen.
Be still.
Breathe deeply.
Pen glides,
thoughts flow.
Listen.
Be still.
Breathe deeply.
Pen moves,
Feelings seep through cracks.
Listen.
Be still.
Breathe deeply.
Reveal,
deep feelings.
Reveal,
feelings,
won’t admit.
Reveal,
deep hopes,
deep dreams.
Feelings inside,
cannot be true.
Cannot be denied.
Write both good and bad.
Write until the well runs dry.
Write.
Be still.
Listen.
Free your soul.
Dedicated to the Working with Parkinson’s support group.
Life Is strange. You Are born. Growing, Learning, Living. Becoming. Deciding. Who you will be. Adulthood. Working for money. Paying the bills. Living your life. Both ups and downs. Later in life. A bomb is dropped. There is a disease, You have it now. Overnight, you see changes. You don’t want to see. Starting over. Learning new things. Finding how to be. No longer living, The life you chose. Realization hits. You have no control. The disease Is in charge. The disease takes control of your body and mind. Moving the body In mysterious ways. You pretend, yes Everything is ok. You long to return To the life way before. . Now adjust and accept. The new life you are shown. Starting over. What are your desires? Learning about life, With a disease so cruel. Life is truly a paradox. It could not happen to you You no longer can be The person you desire. Learning to live, With chronic disease. Changes you, Deep in the soul. Looking deep in the heart. Feeling the blow. The person who lived your life. The person you chose. Realization streaming over you like a waterfall. You now know She is gone. Cheryl Wirtley 1/30/2022
She is gone. Words leapt onto the page. Shocked by the admission. She sits still in the dark. She is gone. Now it is written. She is aware. She is gone. Well, who is she now? Who does she want to be? Who feeds her soul? A new girl is here. She is both very young And very old. Chronic Disease. Can get her down. Champion girl, Comes in twirls around. That’s not all you are She sings with a smile. New evolution, Filling the soul. Deciding, once again, Who she will be. The new girl, Is creative. She longs to sing. The new girl Is very young She still doesn’t understand. The disease in her body. Controls her body, her mind. Let’s go get ice cream. Where everything is grand. She is grieving With each poem, She writes quickly now. She loved her old self. She loved her old life. She is learning, attempting to accept. The facts facing her. The new girl is dancing, With a desire to share. All she is learning. She really does care. The new girl was born, To bring a beacon of light. Leading the way. Helping many. Come in from the night. New girl she ponders. How can this be? How can she lead, When she is unsure. Answers will come The pen flows with words. One moment, One day. She will take it all in. Share the knowledge that’s given. Use skills from before. The new girl will inspire. And find so much more. Still talking. The new girl wonders, When will this end? With that great question. The last sentence appears. She puts down her pen.
We live in a shell. Body and mind work together. One unit. Blood pumps. Heart flows. Lungs contract. The mind directs. Miracle really. All body systems, Working together. All-day long We Care For the body, mind, and soul. We are the bodies caretaker, Tending the garden. Weeding. Pruning. feeding. When we realize the body is on loan. The mind is set free. You no longer think you are not worthy. We now realize Our job on this Earth to care for the body, mind, and soul. Your mind is set free To live with intention And purpose. Nurturing the body, mind, and soul. Negative body images disappear. Expectations of perfection are gone Let go of perceptions. Let go of false ideas. Let go of unrealistic expectations. The mindset now changed. You realize you are the guardian For the body, mind, and soul. The light shines in the mind. Never seen before. Revealing a mysterious glorious glow. The guardian is given a new mission. Free the body. Focus the mind. Nurture the soul.
Tired of being tired Wake up every dayCheck my feelings. Check my body. How do I feel today? How does the body feel? Am I well? Am I rested? Am I shaking? How do I feel? Many mornings, I am tired Sooo tired. Remaining for the morning, Sometimes the entire day. I don’t know why. Finding it hard To do anything, To exercise To think To reason. Sleep That is all I want. Sleep all-day Sleep all night.Each night I wonder, Will tonight be the night. Will I sleep Or stay awake? Tiredness. Affects me all-day No desire to do anything. No desire. Taking sleep for granted. Please, just let me return To the sleeping days. Frustration rising inside me Please let me go back. To the days before I had this disease. What to do When I am so tired? Do I fight to continue Do I rest? I need a way through. Sleep must come. It is essential to life. Not enough sleep, Affects everything. Thinking stops, Moving feels like Walking through the mud. SLEEP. ALL I WANT IS TO SLEEP! Please may I have peace tonight And a good night’s sleep.
Inside Parkinson's 