27 April 2009

MS Awareness week

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

25 April 2009

unexpected -
your smile
mine
all day

24 April 2009

midnight calm -
a screech of tyres
and a horn far off

22 April 2009

hospital regular -
my confident limp
past reception

20 April 2009

perfect sky
the right-angle bend
in a contrail

published Blithe Spirit Vol 18 No 4

15 April 2009

first mow of the year
stones
where the snowman stood

10 April 2009

in every painting
a horsey
the toddler first to notice

(for E)

[Ben Nicholson exhibition - Tate St Ives, Easter 2009]
rush hour
two women embrace
then sign their goodbyes

3 April 2009

housing estate -
two small boys
take in the Porsche
all works are copyright, © David Serjeant. If you plan to use any of the work here, I will probably have no problem with that if you credit me as the author, link to this blog and let me know first. Thank you!

background image: beeley moor spin photo © David Serjeant