Long Cystic Poems

Disability, Illness and Fundamentalism

My brother died of Cystic Fibrosis, 
When I was twelve and he fourteen, 
It took away his ambitions, 
To study at Oxford - the pipe organ’s steam. 

I understand being born with...

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He reignited my creative passion when he reentered my life
His can sense to the core how I am feeling and asked me right away to be his wife

Though it's been 45 years we have known...

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I remember years before her death, my mama would pray, "Lord, take my life." I would try to make her forget her misery by continuing to sing the hymn, "Take My Life and Let it...

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it seems in just the twinkling of an eye
life passes by
and one's left at the brink
with time to think
before the fall 
into the great abyss
where did time go?

For some, life is short
for others, long
But the...

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I was just four when I discovered that some grown-ups cry.
That’s because I saw my mommy dragging my daddy down the stairs,
Her eyes so full of tears that they fairly poured down her flimsy nightgown.
Daddy...

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AMBER DAWNS APPEAL
 
                    A wish, a dream, from birth til death,
    ...

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(whose video powerfully, profoundly, and
positively affected this southeastern residing 
Pennsylvania papa)! 

Afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis since her birth
contagious exuberance, gung-ho,
     infectious jubilance noah dearth
which eye opening (then tearing)
   ...

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[ edit poem ]
Life Is What Happens

What a long, strange life it’s been.
Childhood and adolescence were close to normal,
I never felt quite right,
Never fit my image of a normal kid.
Dealing with internal demons for so...

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Gary, you are my little soldier boy,
who died on Veteran's Day. ('83)
My sunny, golden-haired soldier boy,
that I still miss in every way.

You had just turned 13,
getting interested in girls.
When CF took you from me,
my heart,...

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Darling, I find so many people are deplorable.
But you're charming, you are most lovable.

I like the way you kiss.
You do it like smooch, like this. (smack, ya got it where it's at)
I like the way...

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Hypochondrial Delusion

A mind corrupted canker
Of cystic self failure
Even gastric anorexia
And fluttery throb to alight the fear
An adrenaline generated tachycardia
That matches respiration
And causes hyperventilation
With invasive pacy rhythm
And palpitating violation
To anxious infarction
 In schizoid arrest

A hepatic paranoia...

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FAITH BRINGS THE HARVEST

			Although they go forth weeping
			carrying the seed to be sown,
			They shall come back rejoicing
					Psalm 124

The furrows of our beginnings lie barren: cystic Seeds fallen between the rows; statues of clods
Represent still stages...

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This Mick on the Next Stool

	in a pub in Ireland

So this Mick on the next stool,
who's as serious as Yeats
but looks like Wilde,
stares at me, 
with eyes crossed,
sipping Guinness through the foam.
Finally he burps and...

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in a pub in Ireland



So this Mick on the next stool,
who's as serious as Yeats
but looks like Wilde,
stares at me, 
with eyes crossed,
sipping Guinness through the foam.
Finally he burps and says, 
"I'll bet that growth...

Read More