Parkinson's: Poetry by Jim Sheridan

 

Snarky Parky & me

A journey Into Parkinson's with Nancy Mellon

Coordinated by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

                                  Guest Post

Written by Jim Sheridan

I started writing the poems because I found that the people in my life knew very little about Parkinson's, and the delightful things that follow it. I try to inject a bit of humor or pop culture into  the subject matter.

I use the form of a poem to enlighten and inspire the reader, along with some general education and little known facts that affect some of us.

Some parts of the poems are autobiographical and others are collected from those I meet.

I have been told that my poems are educational, inspiring, blunt, straight-to-the-point.

I try to round up the poem with a positive uplifting feeling.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, diabetes and psoriasis all in one day in 2018 (after 40 years not seeing a doctor).

My purpose is to break down the things that may divide or frighten some. Educate, inspire and motivate those who are unaware of the disease and those living with or caring for someone with Parkinsons.

Thank you,

Jim Sheridan

MAY I INTRODUCE THE PARKINSON'S

Who are the Parkinson's?

Are they like the Robinson's?

Like “Danger! Danger!”

Like the mask of the Lone Ranger?

Wait a minute! Hold on!

Let me speak

Parkinson's is a neurological disease

Tell me more if you please

It affects the central nervous system, AKA the brain

Located in the brain, let's say there's a drain

And in the drain, there should be a plug

A cork, think like a great big hug

The tighter the hug, the less things go down the drain

Dopamine needs to stay in the brain

Not down the drain

The dopamine communicates with receptors

Everyone feels wanted except her

The dopamine has come to the dance without a date

The body, limbs and all, can't control their fate

It's total anarchy, first the brain than the body

It's as if the parents are gone and the teenagers are having a party

All the rules are thrown out, you're a kid once again watching Spin & Marty

You can't control your arms, you have no authority over your legs

You have to relearn that your legs aren't simply wobbly pegs

With the right medicine

You can still be the next Thomas Edison

Keep your body moving, keep your body grooving

Move to the music, there's no need to be too sick

Parkinson's is just a new neighbor that has decided to stay

He's brought along some symptoms, there's no need to delay

Live your life, sing and play, every day is a new day

Keep active, body and mind and everything will be okay

JAMES SHERIDAN

 

LIVIN' MY LIFE WITH PARKINSON'S 

Livin' my life with Parkinson's

No! It's not the family down the street

It's not the sorta thing you'd like to meet

So buckle down and grab your seat

You're in for a hell of a ride, that's for sure

Lookin' back the whole experience has been one big blur

It all starts out of the blue

You start questioning who are you

Things just aren't the way they used to be

Solid, sure, doubt free

Simple things like sitting still

It's harder and harder to just chill

Communicating with your body

Makes everything you touch kinda shoddy

You see it starts with the brain

The almighty controller of all

Blue rein, red rein, purple rein

The mere bouncing of a ball

Dopamine is the secret code

Lack of it, is what lead me down this road

With little or a lack of dopamine

The world becomes a brand new scene

It's as if the laws of nature no longer exist

There's no denying it, your body can't resist

Instead of thinking why does my arm or leg move

Contemplate if your body never stopped the groove

In our world, you don't need a command to have a tremor

Oh contraire! we need a pill to remember not to tremor

Sometimes the lack of dopamine causes us to wear The Parkinson's Mask

Sounds like fun, Halloween year-round you ask

Laugh again you silly fool

Lack of emotion isn't exactly cool

Do you understand, the muscles of the face depend on Dopamine too

Breathing, swallowing, talking,

Bending, moving, walking

All need Dopamine to begin the task then follow-thru

Having Parkinson's is not a death sentence

Is as if you live in a new world within a new fence

Constantly altering things to adapt the changes in your physical being

Step out of your shadow...keep seeing and seeing

Not as things used to be

But as things need to be

The way we need to see

Delay the disease, excuse me?

Parkinson's, yes it is true, is progressive and chronic we know

The disease salivates at the thought of you giving up

Throwing in the towel, and giving away the loving cup

Delaying the disease is the fight for your life

Your life may be full of confusion and strife

But Fight! Fight! Fight!

The proven enemy of Parkinson's Disease is EXERCISE

Moving, moving, moving...it's no surprise

When your voicebox says you're gonna mumble and whisper

Say the heck with that, I'm gonna talk louder and crisper

When your legs tell you that you're gonna stumble and fall

Say the heck with that I'm standing like John Wayne and walking tall

You may hate getting out of bed

You may not like what your trainer said

But hate the disease even more

You deserve to live, you deserve to score

Lift those weights if you can

Get your heart-rate going...with CARDIO Man!

Build that core, become strong

With exercise you can't go wrong

Remember Rocky when he took on Creed

Free from Parkinson's Freed! Freed! Freed!

*This Parkinson's Poem is dedicated to part of my fighting team David Zid & Jackie Russell, and Allison Swain

JAMES SHERIDAN

All Poetry copyright to James Sheridan