SEASONS!

Cherry

By Denzella

Mon, 15 Apr 2013
  • 3522 reads
16 comments
 

SEASONS!

I remember as a child cantering shoeless through nearby fields
Running this way and that feeling the dew damp grass caress my toes
Or, playing in the garden, suddenly alight upon a fragrant rose
Oh how I remember the joy of movement in the spring of my life

Then spring passed into summer and at seventeen I married
And we were blessed with daughters, proudly watching as they grew
And I basked in the sunshine of their father’s love, constant and true.
Oh how I was favoured with happiness of family in the summer of my life.

But now I must learn to live in shorter days
And just like leaves falling from the trees
Each day shedding parts of me slowly by
degrees
So

now maybe I cannot skip

through the fields

But I can walk barefoot

just the same

And feel the dew wet grass

between my toes

Still smell
the fragrance of a rose

Oh how I intend to

enjoy the autumn of my life

But I can see a cold, grey winter

fast approaching

And knowing what I’ve lost

can guess where I will be -

Withered by disease

on the boughs of my dead tree.

Yet I can be content

with what has gone before

Providing those that come after

refuse to shake like me

Oh how I would wish for that

to be a lasting legacy.

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by VeraClark on
Watching somebody you love deteriorate with Parkinson's is unbearable and something I'm experiencing at the moment. Because of that, and the startling honesty of this piece, this poem has absolutely broken me. The positive outlook you have included, of still being able to experience nature is very balanced. Each day shedding parts of me slowly by degrees So now maybe I cannot skip through the fields But I can walk barefoot just the same This bit undid me ^^ It is thoughtful and sensitive and dignified.

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello VeraClark, Thank you so much for your very generous comment. I get wonderful support from not only my family but our local branch and I have made so many friends there. In fact it is the biggest part of our social life. Today going bowling with the group and a lady who is far worse than me but she gets loads of strikes. She is inspirational. Moya
 

Submitted by jolono on
I think this is your best yet Moya. Absolutely loved this poem. But now I must learn to live in shorter days And just like leaves falling from the trees Each day shedding parts of me slowly by degrees. Proper proffesional!

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello Joe, Thank you for the read and the lovely comment. This is the poem I had published in The Goldust Poetry Anthology and in their Magazine. Hope Chester is doing well. Moya
 

Submitted by VeraClark on
Moya - she sounds inspirational - and so are you. Have a wonderful time bowling. Haven't been in years. The last time I went, I ended up throwing myself down the alley.

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello VeraClark, Our support group do all sorts of things. Soon we all go on our summer holiday. This week The Parkinson Players read a play I co-wrote and one which I will be glad to see the back of as it seems to have gone on for so long. I don't know if you and the Parkinson sufferer belong to a support group but I would recommend it. I don't know where I would be without the support and friendship that I have received. Moya
 

Submitted by VeraClark on
What is the play? Thank you so much Moya - she does belong to one, but does not actively use it. Think she is almost afraid of identifying herself by the condition at this stage.If that makes sense. In time I feel she will. I hope.

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello VeraClark, Sorry to be so late in replying but I have had a Parkinson day where I couldn't seem to do very much yet I had a lot to do to be prepared for the play to read tomorrow. I was asked to form a drama group by the Secretary and Chairman of our branch and we have performed some pieces I have written but this play started life as a four hander sketch donated to us by someone who used to put on plays for us but has since moved to Devon. I had to extend it to include another eight people so its running time is about twenty minutes. I also wanted to include two of our people who are very poorly. One lady is in a wheelchair and Mike has to be helped wherever he goes and he moves extremely slowly but his surname is Swift! Moreover, the cast have to all be sitting down as that way they can read the script as they can't memorise it. As for the sufferer not wanting to confront the condition by going to a support group I was just the same. I didn't want to see what my future might be. However, although that is the negative side, the positive is that whenever I am out with my friends if one of us is not so good the others give support, often physical support. Moya
 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Moya - more power to your pen, and more power to Parkinson's Awareness week;-) Will be posting my contribution, of course. You may not be aware of it, but you are a continuing source of inspiration and encouragement for my husband, and I know he will be more than inspired when I read him this. Tina;-)

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello Tina, Yes, we must do whatever we can to raise awareness. I look forward to reading your piece. If I am a source of inspiration to your husband then I am pleased to be so. I hope he is going on not to badly and tell him from me to 'keep the faith!' Who knows we might have old Parkie on the run! Moya
 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
You have shared in a very moving way, and well constructed, Moya. I was thinking of Pilgrim's Progress and the different difficulties they faced at different parts of their journey, but journeying on to the goal of a better land with their Saviour's help. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Hello Rhianonnw, Thank you for the read and your very generous comment. As you know I am not a particularly religious person but I do have belief in a benevolent God so I hope like the 'Pilgrims' I can look forward to eventually reaching a better land. Thank you once again, Moya
 

Submitted by scratch on
This is a damn fine poem Moya. It's bloody marvellous. Congratulations on the well deserved cherries.

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Thank you Scratch, I do believe I might just throw one out now and again that is not too bad. This is the poem I had published in the Goldust Anthology and their magazine so quite proud of this one. Moya
 

Submitted by scratch on
Big smile from me Moya. Your wicked sense of humour is simply irrepressible, Swift - that made me laugh

 

Submitted by Denzella on
Well then, Scratch you might be amused when I tell you he's being escorted to his new prison and the guard is frightened he'll do a runner even though he's on a zimmer. I've also named him Little Ken the son of a man that is half his age and Mike's wife I've cast as his mother. But Mike looks the oldest man in our group, God love him. And Evie who has to be in a wheelchair and can't speak I've made her a drunk and so when someone says that disabled woman can't half knock it back the response to that is she's not disabled she's in a wheelchair because she always gets legless. Every time someone puts a glass down she necks it! Evie does it beautifully. Moya