Today I cried
I cried for you
I saw you sitting
Black and blue
Bleeding from yet
Another fall
While making
Little fuss at all
At first I stopped
Just stood and stared
My mind a blank
And unprepared
To believe exactly
What I was seeing
Happening to
Another being
Friends and family
All around
Not an ally
To be found
Maybe they’d seen
All this before
Picked you broken
From the floor
To them it has
Become the norm
To see your bruised
And battered form
As I moved closer
I could feel
Your cry for help
A quiet appeal
All these people
Couldn’t see
Your pleading eyes
Was it just me?
I took too long
I know it’s true
I wanted to
Be there for you
I didn’t want
To be thought rude
Not to interfere
Or intrude
But you were
Alone in hell
I could see it
I could tell
So I sat down
And held your arm
The shaking one
And you were calm
Then someone said
" I’d watch out mate"
" I think he’s peed"
" He don’t smell great"
" It’s Parkinsons"
" We’re used to it"
" Be grateful that"
" It’s not a shit"
And how they laughed
They laughed aloud
That shameful and
Unfeeling crowd
" I’ve got Parkinsons"
I said
The laughing stopped
The faces red
You turned to me
And squeezed my arm
“They do their best”
" They mean no harm"
Then you struggled
To your feet
You shuffled off
Along the street
Entourage there
Still in place
Same blank look
Upon your face
Do they care
What you go through?
Every day
The slightest clue?
Or have they hardened
To the task?
Is it just
Too much to ask?
For somebody
To really care
When times are bad
To just be there?
So what does
The future hold?
I can’t predict
I’m not that bold
It’s one day
At a time for me
Good or bad
I’ll wait and see
But today I cried
I cried for you
My Parkinsons brother
All black and blue
A different kind
Of tears today
Lots of anger
In the way
Please don’t treat us
With distain
It adds to the
Underlying pain
A hug a kiss
Kind words and deeds
Are all this
Parkinsons sufferer needs
Apologies for the graphic language.
This was based on a true story about a family I saw at Alicante Airport.