Tics, a poem

[true_noir_chloe]

I don't mind if you write good or bad comments. I wrote this for my son, who lives with Tourette Syndrome. As you can see, I don't write poetry very often.

Tics

They crawl through my neck,
Up my spine
Down my back
They itch underneath
My skin
And I scratch

They pound at my head
A headache
I endure
They make my eyes POP
Blurring my vision
Balance obscured

They come in spurts,
Or, all at once.

At night
They attack
No withdrawal, in sight
I scream and I shout
Others mock
Or block out

The sounds that they make
Sometimes I feel
I can’t take
The constancy
Of…
How I want to let go

This demon inside
That gets harder to hide
They will never let go
So perhaps
I should
Give in and accept

My regret…
Or God’s gift?

[Mimichan]

Good poem^_^. The fact that it concerns someone you love makes it all the more poignant (if I am using the term correctly). It certainly paints a disturbing picture . Is this what Tourette Syndrome is like? I am sorry that your son suffers from it.

[true_noir_chloe]

I think you used the term, poignant perfectly. Yes, it's not an easy neurological disorder to have - it can be loud. It is one of the reasons I home school.

[EireWolf]

That sounds like a very difficult thing to deal with. Good poem... makes me want to give you and your son a hug!


I'm curious about the last line... How does it manifest as a gift? I think I might understand a little bit... but I wonder how you see it, as his mother.

[true_noir_chloe]

I think ultimately, as he grows into a man he'll realize this is how God made him. We are all created special by a special creator. I've seen even recently how kind he is to children and others with disabilities because he knows what it is to be ostracized for being different. I think this curse as some see it, is really his blessing. I am so blessed having him as a son. God has given me patience and understanding. Probably why my house always has these kids and people walking through it.

[EireWolf]

I've seen even recently how kind he is to children and others with disabilities because he knows what it is to be ostracized for being different. I think this curse as some see it, is really his blessing.

That's what I thought you probably meant. I have a disorder that may be in the same "family" as Tourette's, although is quite different in nature. So I grew up being a little "different," and while I wasn't quite ostracized I was teased and embarrassed and considered a little weird. I think it gave me more compassion and understanding for people who have strange quirks... now if only I can find a way to have compassion for the jerks who have no manners or common sense... heh...

[true_noir_chloe]

I think that's a common problem. Those jerks and ill-mannered people are so irksome.

Would you like to pm me and let me know what kind of problem you deal with? Of course, we're all a little different.