Greenwich Rhyme: HD Awareness

Trish Dainton has published a book of poetry and prose to raise awareness and funds for those caring for people suffering with Huntington’s Disease.

Trish, who is from Greenwich and sadly lost her husband to HD earlier this year, has been exhibiting a poem from the book at the Greenwich Carer’s Event in Woolwich this week which coincides with Carer’s Week/HDA Awareness Week.

This poem is called The Terminology and is in Trish’s book, which is called Curse in Verse and Much More Worse.

The Terminology

“It’s all Greek to me!” Is the phrase in my head,
As the words on the paper begin to be read.
Is it Greek, is it Latin? I haven’t a clue,
But it sounds quite impressive how they describe you.

So I turn on computer and search on a word,
Oh why is the spelling of these so absurd?
And then one by one, as their meanings unfold,
It’s no wonder they use them, the sadness they hold.

‘Aspiration’ tells me though happy you’re fed,
The nutrition is aiming for your lungs instead.
‘Dysphagia’ tells me the food that I give,
Is making you choke more than helping you live.

‘Dysarthria’ tells me your mouth will not say,
What you want me to do, do you want it this way?
‘Bruxism’ tells me your teeth will grind more,
And whilst you do not notice, my nerves can’t ignore.

‘Ataxia’ tells me your order is altered,
Explaining the speech and the steps that are faltered.
‘Dystonia’ tells I straighten in vain,
The stiff limbs contorting, contracting again.

‘Alexithymia’ tells me your feelings are dead,
Or you cannot express them as words can’t be said.
‘Anhedonia’ tells me you cannot feel pleasure,
Devoid of the feelings you once used to treasure.

‘Myoclonus’ tells me the thrashing in bed,
And the knee in my back, and the punch in the head,
It’s not that you mean it, it’s not aimed at me,
There’s a name for this symptom within your HD.

More information about HD can be found at the Huntington’s Disease Association website.