Twenty-one
The first time, I woke all numb
equally from my knees down
traveling up and stopping
at the bottom of my ribs.
I found my own therapy
and in no time at all
I left the hospital walking
all weak and tingly-legged.
We road tripped west and on the way
I built up my strength with Hackie Sacs,
soaked my legs in Hot Springs,
then tingly I ran the Oregon coast.
~
Twenty-six
The second time, my feet hurt real bad,
my left big toe was numb.
Later that day, it moved
equally from my knees down.
It rose up my body and stopped
at the bottom of my ribs but
this time it jumped to my hands.
I was three months pregnant.
They said it was caused by my head.
I perfected my own therapy
walking once more.
I left the Hospital knowing
it would be awhile until the tingly left again.
~
Thirty-one
The third and final time at last I knew why
I was numb and tingly, unable to stand.
I faced the battle more angry than afraid,
a relapse from MS different then the rest.
I felt tremendous pain
to mind boggling extreme.
At times it could have flipped me out
however, I was stronger no doubt
with morphine on my side.
I pulled out my therapy like a pro ready to walk
even so, this time I changed, damage had been done.
I had a limp to the right and no feeling in the left.
That’s when I made up mind this was the final one.
~
Thirty-seven
An unexplainable pattern of age
has followed me for nearly twenty years.
Afflicting me every five,
leaving me temporarily paralyzed.
Until this last round of five
the pattern took a dive
and I flew right by
breaking
the pattern of five.
2010
