This I Believe*

I do not know how
I will manage to endure,
but I trust I shall.

I tap into roots
spiritual and grounded.
My center will hold.

Faith in renewal
anchors my spirit in hope
my life will be blessed.

*encore

On My Journey

Facing stiff headwinds,

I tack and then tack again

but keep losing ground.

The losses pile on.

New normals replace old ones,

scarce time to adjust.

To find peace I pray,

"teach me how to live like this"  *

and to do it well.

* Robert Parker

What MS Also Wrought - Finding Inner Strength

Through acceptance of
failings, fears, angers and hurts,
I find compassion.

I don't force fit life
into a tight straightjacket
of sheer perfection.

I will acknowledge
humanity's shortcomings.
They come regardless.

While recognizing
life's misfortunes and trials,
I seek solutions.

If I feel despair,
I do not deny its truth,
but find a way out.

For within me lies
finding my own source of strength,
a powerful gift.

There Somewhere



It does not take much

to remind me of losses

suffered and to come.

As an antidote,

I sift through layers of ash

for the uncharred gift.

Life’s light, joy, and hope

surely must be there somewhere.

I keep on searching.

Attitude, Reality, and Resolve

I really believe

a winning attitude counts.

I always seek it.

The honest truth is

optimism may elude

my best intentions.

I renew daily

my resolve to keep finding

a foothold in hope.

In Memoriam - George, The Greek from Detroit

I weep as I write.
George has died after fighting
his cruel battle.

Courage and resolve
marked Greek’s approach to MS.
Then mercy failed him.

I say this to George:
a warrior never dies;
only, his battles.

The Will to Renew

It surprises me.
Faced with disheartening odds,
one can choose to smile.

The human spirit
stuns with its resolute will
to keep marching on.

The new beginnings,
fool’s errand or found wisdom,
will keep arriving.

We All Fight Battles

No one wants to hear
What is wrong with me today.
We all fight battles.

Mine might seem special.
They are only so to me.
Forgive my weakness.

It’s just that some times,
MS fear seems to trump joy.
My resolve falters.