"Don't Laugh at Me..."

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 20 Apr 2015
  • 1193 reads
8 comments
 
“Hello stranger. How you doing?
Good to see you on your feet.
Not laid eyes on you for ages,
and now look who I meet!
 
They told me what was ailing you... 
with folk it don’t take long;
I think I sussed it months ago
but hoped I might be wrong.
 
My dear old dad, God rest his soul,
had the self-same thing, you see,
but he never made a thing of it, said, 
There’s plenty worse than me.
 
That’s true enough, but hand on heart, 
I don’t mind telling you, the Lord himself
knows how I’d be, if I got the damned thing, too.
 
Still, sure as summer follows spring,
life carries on the same, and you have to make
the best of it...Say, don’t it look like rain?”
 
“It sure does, mate, and I have to say,
it’s great to see you, too. Mention Parkinson’s
to most folk, and they haven’t got a clue.
 
Take my hat off to your father, would have liked
to shake his hand; the pun was as intended.
Your dad would understand. 
 
Not the case with people though; 
upsetting and frustrating...fumbling 
at the checkout,  couldn’t miss 
what they were saying, 
 
“Despicable, I call it...this early in the day. 
Can’t string two words together; watch the poor sod sway.
Just past nine o’clock, and, look, he’s drunk as a skunk!”
 
“No. I’ve Parkinson’s, madam, and I’m sober as a judge!
I’m aware I kept you waiting; it’s the shakes is what it is. 
Can only beg your pardon, what I can’t do is ‘quick’.”
 
Then I bid them, “Good morning” – them with egg
on their face, quip, “Have to laugh, don’t you? 
Beats crying, any day....only, 
 
do me a favour, and the rest of us lot too –
laugh with us, not at us. We are that we are, 
and that’s no fool...”
 
“I’m not good looking, I’m not too smart,
I may be foolish, but I’ve got a heart...”
Norman Wisdom OBE 4/2/1915 – 4/10/2010
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Philosophy
Biography
Opinion

Comments

Submitted by tibi popovici on

Great dialog, beating rhyme like a drum, and a perfect ending. Oh, I forget about the judge...

Like it, Tina!

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, tibi...and never forget that judgesmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

The wrong judgement is so sad and emphasised by the chirpy chatty style.  Love the NW quote.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Philip.  I know that wrong judgement, only too well, unfortunately.

Glad you noticed the quote.  It is in fact from his song 'Don't Laugh at me Cause I'm a Fool, which is the referenced link to YouTube.  It's worth a look, and always brings the tears to my eyes.

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It's good when anyone with any disability does try to help the unthoughtful around, realising maybe they just don't realise, and are so unaware of the personality of the person before them. And it is so special when anyone who is struggling is able to show their own genuine caring heart. You have obviously seen all this so much.

Mother-in-law doesn't seem to understand any more really what her husband just cannot do, he is very frail with 'Parkinsonism' as part of his dementia, rather than the real condition, but is very immobile and shaky, but does take an interest when he can be persuaded to open his eyes, and has a genuine nice smile. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks for sharing this, Rhiannon.  It must be very difficult for youro mother in law.  My husband has suffered with Parkinson's for over 15 years now, and now it really is taking its toll on both of us.  The tablets cease to have any real effect, as they only help the symptoms, not the condition. Now though, he is on the strongest tablets possible, but his Dopamine level continues to drop, as it will keep on doing.  The last resort we are left with is DPS, deep brain stimulation, and that -  a road neither of us is keen to take.

Your thoughts, so very much appreciated.

Tina

 

 

Submitted by denni1 on

You must be so proud of yourself. I hope you are xx

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

denni...and you, yourself.  Thank you. So very much. xx