Multiple Sclerosis 






For over forty years
I have been dueling
with a redoubtable opponent.
If I have maintained equilibrium,
it is through fancy footwork
...

40th Anniversary of My Illness 


Forty years of living
with a kleptomaniac
who steals by stealth
movement, agility, grace.

But that is not all:
the thief is now leaching ...

Double 




My disability accompanies me
everywhere; I have always to effect
a double introduction, explain:
there's two of us; were inseparable.
It'...

Chronic 




Chronic
an illness of time
there's no escaping
time is for always
even a clocks unnecessary
if I read the sycamore tree
learn by ...

Lost Me 




Me, where have I gone?
Sadly, my life's been changed.

MS, is the diagnosis, Dr.'s say.
Yesterday, is now a distant memory.

Somehow,...

A Close Call 





A stranger tried to help me today
I was headed toward a chair
Mincing, labored, cloddy steps
Each with a prayer
She asked if I was alright
...

Lonely 



I have a little window to the world
I see the people walk by, ride by,
Kids on bikes swerve in the street
I try to pretend I know what's there
...

Finally Diagnosed in Great Britain 


My friend just got diagnosed
She's waited nigh 20 years
Her job depends on it
In that crazy system of hers

She's had an awful hassle
GP's just ...

Limboland 




Limboland

It's got to be they're missing something
My history is so clear to me
I have much of what every MS site lists
It should be ...

The Slaying 


The Slaying


At first it's every moment, waiting to see
The day MS has brought to me.
It's bated breath and quivering inside,
As I wait ...

Time Matters 





I don't want to bike
in the mountains
I don't care
to tour New York City

I just want to be Me.

The Me I used to be

The one I know ...

I Never Get A Break  Not rated yet





I never seem to get a break
How much more of MS can I take
My mood swings are severe
Going from up and down everywhere
Making me feel so ...

Just What I Think  Not rated yet






I think it's the MS just closing my eyes
Just closing my eyes to the fear

I think it's the MS making everything so hard
Tripling my efforts ...

Like The Super Bowl Win  Not rated yet



Like The Super Bowl Win
Us MSers also must never give in
The Saints though never a contender
For all the years this team did not render
Yet ...

Life Sentence  Not rated yet



Like the dog chained
to the chariot wheel
I have no choice.
It makes no difference
whether I am dragged
claws screaming and scraping,
or whether ...

My Body Betrays Me  Not rated yet


My body betrays me
I have MS you see
From one day to the next
I wake up quite perplexed
Will this be a good day
To accomplish all that might ...

Just Because  Not rated yet





Just because I
Can't walk good to the eye
My right foot drags my oh my
Your searing looks I feel
I want to shout back what's the deal
Am ...

What MS Means To Me  Not rated yet


What does MS mean to me
It's an everyday challenge yessiree
Some days are good and going great
But again some days many a challenging feat
Only ...

No Longer Benign  Not rated yet





No Longer Benign

It finally happened
My MS is on a tear
I'm noticing changes
Stuff maybe I can't bear

I always knew it might happen
...

How Long?  Not rated yet





Today I knew I was finally crippled
Half the day I went here and there
But in between was when I was
Doubled over, my feet slapping the ground
...

Stranger  Not rated yet




I see a wheelchair and I just know
Every hair in place with gay clothes
The picture of health and vigor
Alert, sparkling eyes
Exuding confidence ...

Resistance  Not rated yet



I get somewhere
But I can't get back
My mind is willing
But my feet won't move

Pushing against a sand wall
The impulses don't come through
...

MS Means  Not rated yet





MS could mean "mighty splendid"
It could mean "more sensation"
Or maybe "mostly sore"
But it doesn't
It means being bone tired
It means ...