It is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Week across the globe. To mark this, I have written the following haiku sequence.
I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2008 after a particularly bad attack and Limboland was inspired by the journey from attack to diagnosis. For a more thorough account of my experience with MS please visit my 'Dave's Magical Brain' blog at http://davesmagicalbrain.blogspot.com
Limboland
no hint of a smile -
for once my doctor says
"take it easy"
on the scan room ceiling
cherry blossom -
the staff retreat behind glass
not crying yet ...
your chin dimples
as you talk
diagnosis
I salute the magpie
anyway
on the news a terror attack ...
my leg
numb again
from a packed lift
a man on crutches
follows me to clinic
new year's eve
the bowl slips from my fingers...
smashes
Just a note on the cherry blossom haiku. Diagnosis of MS requires an MRI scan, but to eliminate other possible ailments including brain tumours an initial CT Scan is performed. This was described to me as being like sticking your head in a giant washing machine and I reckon that's a pretty good description. I don't know if it is the same in other hospitals but at the Royal Hallamshire in Sheffield they have a light box on the ceiling of the scan room with an image of cherry blossom on it. I presume this is to calm the nerves while your head is x-rayed. I thought the experience lent itself very well to haiku, partly because cherry blossom is a well used seasonal reference. I guess this is my take on the traditional cherry blossom haiku.
Limboland is also appearing on the MS Society website: www.mssociety.org.uk
http://www.mstrust.org.uk/msawareness/
http://www.mssociety.org.uk/get_involved/campaigning/ms_week_2009.html
What is MS? (requires pdf reader): http://tinyurl.com/c26vgq
27 April 2009
25 April 2009
24 April 2009
22 April 2009
20 April 2009
15 April 2009
10 April 2009
3 April 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)