Best Lyme Poems
I have survived trauma, Cancer, Lyme disease, Head Traumas,
Many surgeries, bowel obstruction and infection
For those with health issues, life can really hit rock bottom
Pain can be unbearable and also be ongoing
Near death experiences are as scary as can be
But, I tell you this because you can heal and you can survive
You can find ways to get through the pain
You can adapt however possible to still do what you love to do
Never give up what you believe in, no matter what
You can still create to get through things
You can still write, as much as you can
It is never easy, but it is in fact possible
To keep dreaming, to keep trying, to keep fighting
To be all you can be with whatever you are faced
You may feel stuck, but just not there yet and I testify
---- You CAN do it ---
Heidi Sands
5/7/18
*This is NOT meant to be morbid, alarming or negative. Most people who have seen my poems, know that I am positive often. It is realistic. I am a factual person, so it is based on facts, not panic. It is regards to the Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Over the years, I have had Cancer, Lyme disease, Head traumas and I have a heart issue.
Realistically, I know that if I get this, it is nearly or will be a death sentence for me
I have had many near death experiences in my life and I am fortunate to survive, I am a fighter!
I am also a survivor who prepares with action for any crisis and with faith gained strength to do so
So, I have been watching the Covid-19 virus evolve and spread around the world quickly
It is the most contagious illness that I have ever witnessed and it seems to be uncontainable
I also know what our hospitals are like where I live, which has often been very poor treatment
So, I am facing truth to what may or may not happen, as I prepare as best as I can
I also know what it is like to lose someone suddenly to death without a chance to say goodbye
This leads me to speak out today to everyone here and thank you all for your kind support
This does not mean I think I’m leaving for certain and if I escape this, I will certainly celebrate!
I hold onto gratitude closely in my life and I’m grateful for every bit of support I receive here
Thank you for reading my poems, becoming my friend, taking the time to leave nice comments
Some may ask why not wait to see if I am diagnosed with this first? Why rush to say this?
Because, I know by then, I may not be able to write this and I would never want it to be too late
I love this site. It has helped me through many things and taught me a lot too. It has become a part of my life since I found it.
So, thank you again with love for now and prayers to everyone here and I will keep writing!
Heidi Sands (*I am not leaving. I am just saying what I feel and will continue here, as usual)
3/1/20
We were armed at fourteen with BB guns
and reckless abandon.
So started many of our cousinly adventures.
Central Utah has hot, hot summers
and little else going for it.
We took to the sage in shorts and t-shirts
begging the tics to climb aboard.
Lyme disease?
For suckers by suckers.
By and large our hikes were aimless.
We’d shoot lizards if we could…
or any glass objects that were lying around
if we couldn’t.
A fire was needed
in the desert heat
in the middle of the day
because we had a string of fire crackers
and a shortage of common sense.
There was an abundance of combustibles
and we chose the dried up cow pies…
less poop for the dog to eat.
We stacked a few into a pile
then lit it up.
They were Black Cats…
or possibly Lady Fingers.
In either case, they were lame
one at a time.
So we threw them all in at once.
Did you know burning cow manure
and fire crackers
make babies?
Flying, fiery babies of death
with an insatiable appetite
for combustibles.
Neither did we.
We stomped their nest.
Tried to bury it.
We weren’t dummies,
(I know what you’re thinking)
we had built close to water.
So we tried some mud.
Still the babies hatched.
So violently
so noisily
so fire-erly
that we decided it was time to run.
If the world was going up in flames…
we weren’t sticking around.
Armed with BB guns,
we were desert deserters.
We didn’t get far before
the hatching ended.
It turns out
flying, fiery babies of death
have a very high mortality rate
or a very short life span.
We knew it all along…
hell spawn can’t survive here
even in the desert
it’s too cold.
To this very day,
I thank the heavens
that we were only fourteen
and hadn’t had enough money
for more than one string of Black Cats…
or possibly Lady Fingers.
05/08/15
*true story, and I'm happy to still be around to tell it, haha.
I feel the challenge.
Can I change the past?
Only the good Lord knows,
but I can try hard.
And what can one do
to achieve such a mammoth
enterprise? Don’t you know.
Only one thing suffice, an impossibility.
I pray that I might be given a chance.
Time creates a vortex
and into the past I am sent.
I shudder at the sights.
All evil lay behind me,
Murders, massacres, mayhem,
terrorism, turbulence, strife,
diseases, ugly like plagues,
still born babes, Lyme Disease*,
infections, dermatitis, blindness
and so much more, so much more.
Until I come to my destination.
The garden is decorated
with myriads of beautiful trees,
flowers spread their fragrance
enticing all sorts of flying insects,
but no one can be seen.
On the hill are two stately trees.
No one is to touch the tree
of knowledge of good and evil.
But why? Such lovely fruit
resembling sweet olives.
I reach up and began to eat.
A vortex of angry wind rises up.
And I am back where I was.
It is far best to think of the future,
for the past cannot be changed.
*unable to walk.
Be aware folks, its the
Season for lyme disease.
Don't just say "huh"
For this does not cure with ease.
Spring raises up all that was dormant,
Its allergy season from All Types of bugs.
For all that rises up is but paramount,
To how you're giving cheerful hugs.
Observe for the sign and symptom,
From information to gain wisdom.
Bacterial deer ticks from the ground,
Vegetable planters this is not sound.
Now what's all this about lyme disease?
A bacterial infection not cured with ease.
Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Rash, Flu-like symptoms, Fatigue, Muscle and Joint pains, Severe Headaches, Facial Palsy, Irregular Heartbeat, Abnormal sensations in limbs, Inflammation at many sites, Cognitive problems.
http://health.facty.com/conditions/lyme-disease/10-signs-of-lyme-disease/9/#JjZX5MxFeQglP00X.99
If I explain you, that wouldn't help you
To understand the importance of a subject,
until you don't fail, you 'll never learn the values of a thing,
doesn't matter living is balanced or unbalanced that has swing,
Changing circumstances has everyone's effect,
you need to earn each single penny that's most defect.
you can or not become rich over a night
you want to live honestly or dishonestly is our fight.
you 're educated or illiterate a way for living you need to select.
you 're sufficient or need efficiency a precess our ancestor's hope,
developed communities, broken barriers to secure progressive crop.
when you doubt, raised a question, indicates you understand lot,
you dedicate contribution is important no care subject is cool or hot.
I'm a factor to live in present to walk forward with time,
to follow the roots of a problem to find the solution of lyme.
There are many blessings in this life,
One is friendship to ease your strife.
A friendship lives within the heart,
You know it’s there when they do not depart.
Friendship is a special gift
For the sad days to give you a lift.
It’s a gift from heaven above,
Another way God shows his love.
When you find yourself down
And all you have is that frown
Sometimes it only takes a friend’s smile
To help you carry on that extra mile.
Edward J Ebbs - 1997s (sick with Lyme)
No spot, no matter how ugly can be transformed,
into a place of beauty and delightful with flowers;
in spring I feel a rising sense of excitement,
oh, soon the winter damage will be full of color.
Primrose with tenacity thrive in the shade of a tree,
bluebell happily rise through the foliage of bleeding hearts;
and blooming tulips grow between clumps of lilies in the sun,
my garden of pleasure is so extravagant and fragrant.
Painted daisies and meadow rue cheerfully sing in harmony,
I am creating a quiet garden of peace;
peonies and roses choose to peak over a fence,
and purple phlox willowy gather in a sunny corner.
Oh, those wine lychnis pop up wherever they like,
creating color and havoc and magic;
I do love a white shasta daisy that reminds me of mom,
creeping thyme decorate a rock garden along with yarrow.
Yellow loose strife grows everywhere willy-nilly,
this year I am planning a water pond;
where a sea of lyme grass and a blur of mantle,
will tower over the blue water.
No spot, no matter how ugly can be transformed.
into a place of beauty and delightful with flowers.
______________________
March 30, 2017
Ode/Ode To Garden Flowers
Copyright Protected, ID 888526
Screwed XVII Contest
Rob Carmack
Fourth Place
_____________________
Ode to Flower(s) Contest
NA, Judged April 12, 2017
I would have to say the greatest performance of my life is survival
And turning bad things into something positive to help others
I survived severe trauma as a child, I was silenced and deeply hurt
I survived Cancer later, accidents, Lyme disease, near death experiences
I survived by working in human services to help others, giving to friends
And I assisted a leader volunteering at a support group in the area
I was an investigator and I pursued justice for many years
Most of all, I create as best I can to spread what I have in my soul
I write – I paint – I play piano
I hope that my words of truth will reach others however possible
I hope that my music will bring peace and relaxation
I hope that my paintings will bring happiness and inspiration
I turned the bad into good to survive because this can be achieved
I am also a mother to my loving, special pets who mean so much to me
We can always give and share and love and inspire others
Regardless of what we have been through, this is what I have learned
Heidi Sands
5/21/22
A 1st placement in The Greatest Performance of My Life Poetry Contest
Sponsor: JCB Brul
So here we are in the 21st century
acting like a flock of birds that suddenly went blind
and flew into a red brick wall.
We have to worry about the outbreak of Ebola,
and ISIS murdering and taking over the globe,
and climate change that’s melting the ice,
and why there’s no sure-fire cure for Lyme disease,
and why our politicians favor their own personal agendas
over helping us citizens live a happy and healthy life.
Maybe we’ve become an illogical species
that treat the facts about how we behave
as a can of recyclables like a plastic soda bottle
or an empty can of peas or beans
or an unread newspaper gathering dust in the trash.
Maybe we think our current behavior
couldn’t be reincarnated as an instrument of our demise
even when we act like a distracted driver of modern-day car
that kills a Raccoon crossing the road to visit with his lover.
I loved each and every one of my pets
Such fond memories one never forgets
My frog Buddah was a friendly little critter
Like Leo the lizard but they gave mom the jitters
I brought home Slick the snake and Brutis the spider so cool, creepy and slimey
Mom let out a shriek and said "get them out of the house they're icky and grimey"
As I tried to capture other things mom yelled "STOP they carry rabies"
Hey, what can I say? I didn't know any better I wasn't much older than a baby
I once brought home some cool looking ants
Once again mom wasn't very pleased as she found them in her pants
I attempted to catch a cool looking bee
Mom yelled but it was too late I got stung in the knee
I brought home a jar of worms
Oh how those buggers made mom squirm
What I brought home next was apparently a tick
Mom said "oh no baby those carry Lyme disease and can make you real sick
I brought home some crickets that made such a cool sound
Loose in the house mom was none too happy as it was a couple of weeks before they were all found
The last pet I found on my own was a cute little mouse
Mom and I came to a compromise and she said "if you stop bringing critters home I'll buy a cat for the house"
(I know this is a dark poem, but also factual. If you want a lighter poem, please read the few before this one *that I hope you will visit)
Some may say, don’t worry, make light of it
As if people may be causing an unnecessary fit
Truth is, I’ve watched the info. And numbers climb
I’ve also seen repercussions from tick carrying Lyme
China shuts down cities, keeping people inside
Unable to control it, with no safe place to hide
Countries scramble with travel bans, restrictions they cast
But, this particular virus hits two body areas and fast
San Francisco has already become an unsanitary place
Cases have started there, contacts unable to trace
A doctor says this is a pandemic, heading to be
Preparation is all we can do, with what we see
I say this as my compromised health system will kill
To face this true fact, takes very strong will
I pray for everyone affected by this nightmare
Because in a time like this, what is left is prayer
Heidi Sands
2/2/20
There's a heavy dew 'pon the ground
A gift from last nights rain
Then I saw the path whence was made
By an animal plain
Then I saw another path, too
They both came from the road
Then they converged in the front yard
Together was their mode
Two deer_a mother and her fawn
A youth of this years birth
Will it live to follow the path
By ancestors of earth
Deer were here then wiped out by man
Lyme disease disappeared
Gone with deer whose ticks spread it round
Now both are back uncleared
There's good_ bad in most everything
Now the garden fenced round
But the deer's beauty is enjoyed
All the year most profound
I wasn't right in the head, but no words were said except to the secretaries, a housewife, and machines.
I left weird messages about fake products like a kind of heating pad only different. I spoke bad spanish.
I was like a sad Jerky Boy but with no schedule or agenda; just depression and sometime pity sex from an ugly girlfriend.
Finally I hit a low point, heard my own fallible voice.
Talked for an hour to a too young housewife about Lyme and pick lines; about broken down cars, lost jobs, and suicide.
We talked in an interview style and my stomach filled with bile; it came to an end and she broke through my line with a question of her own.
She asked me my name to define the call as real and I gave her a fake name and hung up the phone.