Hi, Lin!

I received the poetry book this morning & have read it through. It's a lovely collection & I'm sure I'll be reading it many times. Thanks very much for sending me a copy. It is much appreciated. x

“Just like walking in clowns shoes”

Thank you Lin you are a treasure
This book has brought so much pleasure
And I cannot really hide
How I feel and my deep pride
To be included with the cream
Of all you poets I so esteem
Kith and kin will now all know it
I am (at last) a published poet

This can't be copied due to copywrite, but I thought it was worth reading?

Disability poem about Parkinson's disease titled "In Sickness and in Health" by Kenneth Nye


 
Eleven years ago,
when the doctor looked me in the eye
and said," Mr. Nye, you have Parkinson's disease,"
it never occurred to me that the "you" to whom
he was speaking included another person
who wasn't even in the room.

But as the years have passed,
and this chronic, progressive disease
has become more of a nuisance,
I have come to understand that "you" meant
not me alone, but Ann, too.

There are buttons I can't button,
zippers I can't get started.
There are organizational tasks I used to do routinely
that have now been passed to Ann.
There is medication to be sorted into
little square cups of a daily pill box,
ready to be imbibed every three hours through the day
so I can function almost normally.
There is a joint pocket calendar maintained
by Ann to be sure I get where I am supposed to be,
when I am supposed to be there ----
and she is the driver.
There are foods I shouldn't eat,
but sometimes do;
things I shouldn't do,
but threaten to.
So she watches over me,
like a nurse working a 24 hour shift
that never ends.
As my horizon shrinks,
so does hers.

But she never complains.
And when I get angry or frustrated
that we have to deal with all of this
pain-in-the-neck crap,
she brushes it off,
cools me down,
never offering pity
or even sympathy,
just acting as if this is all part of life
and the promise we made to each other
a long time ago.

She meant every word
of that "in sickness and in health" stuff
45 years ago.

"Mr. Nye, you and your wife have Parkinson's disease."
She never blinked an eyelash.

Am I a lucky man or what?

Lin - thank you very much.I am most pleased. Just what I needed (day surgery tomorrow, bit stressful as hospital is 111km away).
thanks again.
T
well done!

Thanks turnip and good luck with the surgery.
Anne-bernadette - I am sorry for delay with your book - I will deal with it today and bogman - I will send your extra copy today as well.

Lin
xx

Just wondered if there is going to be an electronic version. Thanks.

Dear Lin , I have tried to pm you, but am unsure if it has been sent. Just in case - your poetry pamphlet arrived today. I thank you. (And I love the added bonus of the bookmark!)

Best wishes
AB

I think that just about wraps up the Poetry Book thread.
I printed twenty copies and they have all gone! (Yours is ready to send angel4u)
I knew there wouldn't be a terrific demand but am gratified by the good wishes/comments I have had.

Many Thanks

Lin
xx