I've been getting your Downhome subscription for many years now. I enjoy and look forward to every month's stories, puzzles and outstanding pictures - plus much, much more. I see you publish poems. I wrote a couple, wondering if you would consider mine.

I was born in Codroy, Newfoundland in 1953. I've been living in Enfield, Nova Scotia for almost 40 years. I started writing poetry mostly after I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1998.

Parkinson's

Our face expressions most times look blank with a stare.
A depressed look you're most likely to see there.
Lots of times it's like our bodies are on trial.
On the inside and out for us we have happiness, but not always a smile.
Parkinson's makes our loving faces look down.
Turning them into sadness, worry and frowns.
Moods can change all so quick and fast.
Tears for no reasons will just blast.
We're still the same people you always knew.
We have to take medications to help us through.
We laugh, joke, even try to carry a tune.
We may never be famous, or ever go to the moon.
We may have moments of sadness, forgetfulness and pain.
That we all endure Parkinson's is no game.
There will be stress, fear, worry and lots of hard work.
With shaking, twitching, even body jerks.
There's many Parkinson's groups, fundraisers and events.
One day at a time is how our lives are spent.
Research costs money, Parkinson's costs pain.
To find a cure is one big fighting game.
Young people and elders are both struck down.
Until a cure for Parkinson's is found.   Submitted By: NULL