We rush to prepare costumes and makeup
An electricity runs through the house
I am the ringmaster
These are my animals
Wild and unpredictable
Loving and gentle
They bite the hand that feeds them sometimes
I would stick my head in the mouth of these lions
The doorbell rings
"Trick or treat"
My daughter frantically rushes to grab the candy bowl
There is joy in the giving
Now it’s their turn to ring the doorbell
"Trick or treat"
"Say thank you" I yell from the street
There is a chill in the air
It’s unseasonably cold
My foot starts to drag as I pull myself up the next sidewalk hill
It is dark, and I am hiding behind a vampires face
It feels good to hide, familiar
Screams fill the air..followed by laughter
We walk
We walk
I feel every step
Something is wrong
My walk is uncomfortable
Pulling always pulling
“Que linda” a lady yells my way
“You look very pretty” is what it means
I smile, “gracias” thank you
We have to head back
My meds are wearing off
I already took two more than I should
My son moans a little
“Just a few more houses?”
My daughter shoots him a stern gaze
They run home with their friends
To survey their loot
I struggle to make it upstairs to the bathroom
One more pill
To maintain the costume of normalcy
Everything has a price
A wise old woman told me that years ago
I will gladly pay it in flesh
“This is the end of an era” my daughter says
She’s right
We all sense it
“Why are you walking up the stairs weird?”
It’s Parkinson’s
Nothing can scare you
When you live with a beast
Honest words are always the hardest, It’s not easy but try to stay positive.we don’t live with it….it lives with us …I call my Parkinson’s. Cecil and I keep him out of sight down in the cellar and do my best to never let him out. it sort of works for me….stay strong and good luck 🤞
A very dark poem, to most people it would only happen in a nightmare, for us it is very real. We all struggle even when medicated, we should not be afraid to let people see us in an off state, easier said than done.
Our common monster, hiding behind a mask..
Lovely writing
To maintain tha costume of normality,, I have never thought about my medication before I just take it as prescribed , but it is just a disguise! it’s certainly not a cure. Thank you I enjoyed reading this.