Untitled 2/24/2014 Poem by Andy Caldwell

every breath takes work
all my muscles hurt
as they randomly
contract and jerk
I have essential tremor
my hands shake 
and tremble
about five hertz
I walk and stumble
can't stand straight up
suddenly my meds kick in
for awhile I'm human again
until they meds wear down
then I am re-afflicted 
I try to walk it off
but I might fall again
not if but when.....
Parkinson's progresses
I diminish.........
There is no other path
There is another choice
but I won't take that course