A day in the life
Quiet as the morning air
It does not knock
Leaving silence in its wake
No pattern, or precision
No give, all take
At first you do not notice
Life is busy as it is
But then one day it becomes familiar
Catches your attention
And you think…
What is this unusual movement
Never seen before or felt
No longer ignored
It has your attention
It is out of the norm
Life has secretly guided you
Down paths ill-suited to one’s health
Surreptitiously introducing you to agents
Robbing you of your biological wealth
Stealth in approach
As would be a preying lion
Clever as it is convincing
Each visit is different
And unique in presentation
Its watermark
Suddenly, it becomes apparent
Fingers and legs move in different ways
Not seen before now
And when the scent of the roses
Can no longer be enjoyed
We feel somewhat of a pawn
In a game of chess, when
Controlling the center is no longer a play
Time moves on and more symptoms
Are revealed
Social engagements become difficult
As what once was normal
One can no longer conceal
So, we exercise and listen to experts
Upping our effort
And adopt best practices as we can
We learn that, unlike what was initially believed Parkinson’s is a collection of illnesses
Without a single plan
As the debate continues among researchers
Regarding the role an assay plays
The drive to eliminate this disease
Gains momentum every day
As does the urgency for new treatments
Rises in demand
The total number diagnosed will double
to 12 million in a 15-year span
And for those most challenged, we do our best
We eat well, exercise and get our rest
And while we wait for breakthroughs to take place
We adapt, we twist, we turn
We ask God for grace.
Quiet as the morning air
It does not knock
Leaving silence in its wake
No pattern, or precision
No give, all take
At first, you do not notice
Life is busy as it is
But then one day it becomes familiar
Catches your attention
And you think…
What is this unusual movement
Never seen before or felt
No longer ignored
It has your attention
It is out of the norm
Life has secretly guided you
Down paths ill-suited to your health
Surreptitiously introducing you to agents
Robbing you of your biological wealth
Stealth in approach
As would be a preying lion
Clever as it is convincing
Each visit is different
And unique in presentation
Its watermark
Suddenly, it becomes apparent
Fingers and legs move in different ways
And when the scent of the roses
Can no longer be enjoyed
We feel somewhat of a pawn
In a game of chess, when
Controlling the center is no longer a play
Time moves on, and more symptoms
Are revealed
Social engagements become difficult
As what once was normal
One can no longer conceal
So we exercise and listen to experts
Upping our effort
And adopt best practices as we can
We learn that, unlike what was initially believed
Parkinson’s is a collection of illnesses
Without a single plan
As the debate continues among researchers
Regarding the role an assay plays
The drive to eliminate this disease
Gains momentum every day
As the urgency for new treatments
Rises in demand
The total number diagnosed will double
to 12 million in a 15-year span
And for those most challenged, we do our best
We eat well, exercise, and get our rest
And while we wait for breakthroughs to take place
We adapt, we twist, we turn
We ask God for grace.
journey for truth
I’ve traveled far and wide
Researched and reviewed
Challenged and engaged
In lively conversation too
I’m different I say
They smile and nod
Then I’m labeled as others
Be on your way
Can they not entertain
Nor understand
Subtle differences exist
That may pertain
And while not proven
One should not outright
Discard or exclude them, or resist
And then one day, I stumble upon
An alternative perspective
Though not common, a dawn
A result of study
Laboratory and books
A new paradigm emerges
Its a new outlook
The time has come for a new approach
Change is possible, its true
Where one can also have both
With science as a foundation
Advances are made
Lives are improved
Where others mistook
The day arrives
When we meet face-to-face
A glowing countenance before me
Exuding calm and grace
We review the numbers
And then the charts
I find you unique
When did this first start?
The findings we review
Never assessed before
But caught in time now
Before problems set in
I know not how
Life now has new meaning
Relevance and depth
A lightness of being
A renewal of breathe
my spirit dances
My spirit’s alight
The piano plays
I explore, its freeing
What can I do?
Where will I go?
Will it be familiar
Or somewhere unknown
In life we must manage
The antagonist, uncertainty
It’s not always easy
But the alternative
It’s not palatable, for you nor me
So raise up, take a step
The next step is easier yet
Soon you’re on your path
The path that sets you free…
Free of constraints
That say, no, you can’t
That hold you back
When you have roads to travel
And flowers to plant
Chest out, nose in the air
Will and determination take ahold
And with a prayer…
Life plays out
Unpredictable that’s true
As it will be
Diverse as humanity
Deep as the sea
So peer, explore
Let your being take flight
Let it explore new avenues
Reach new heights
Grace
When life goes sideways
Distractions are many
You think of home
Where friends and family
Extend a hand
And wink, please join us
Just as you can
The mood is easy
You laugh and applaud
Of feats and accomplishments
Otherwise, awed
No calculation for return
Grace leads the way
Its simple, uncomplicated
Live for the day
A lightness of being
Is felt through the space
Genuine and caring
No motive or race
The world can be rough
So to have such friendship,
Family, and grace
Is a gift beyond all others
In time and place
In the circle of life
Giving back to others with care
Is an understanding, a regard
Of all we can share
To lighten a load
And brighten a path
A simple routine
A heartfelt task
We rejoice in the gestures
Of those we unexpectedly meet
They address you by name
There’s a reason you meet
She lends a hand
You acknowledge her smile
Its Grace that binds
All the while
Hope
When long days
Have a moment
Of unexpected joy
That cause you to pause, reflect
A smile unfolds
And your determination
To never give up
You believe, might just be
A turning of the tide
The opening you seek
For the yoke is heavy
And the question becomes
Will this stress resolve
If I pray harder, give more
Will this puzzle,
Be solved?
One’s burden may be silent
Or present for all to see
No matter, life hurries around us
And there are no guarantees
Hope may present as a kind gesture
Or independence to a degree
Regardless, a guiding light, a beacon
That if we look, we can see
Through the shadow of night
It is a landscape, a perspective
Of all that we can be
