He just appeared, it seems, out of the blue.
For those looking, his presence was long overdue.
Nobody understood from whence he came.
He didn’t volunteer much just, Sensei, his name.
He didn’t mix words,
more than a few sentences, we seldom heard.
 
He carried nothing with him,
he lived life lean and mean.
Never in a rush, he passed each moment deliberately.
There is no reason, he taught, to meaninglessly let one pass by,
life is best walked one foot in front of the other, only.
Always being on the run, he said, is worse than a stick in the eye.
 
There were many paths that Sensei could have taken
but he chose a life in the simplest form, to some it looked quite barren.
It was obvious that he was a learned man;
he was disciplined, fit, sound minded, solitary, and lived by his own plan.
“Against his better self-interest”, many would say,
but Sensei never listened, he was comfortable making his own way.
And for those who could not, or would not, try to understand,
although living a simple life, he was a very complex man.
 
Sensei, defined himself by his minimal life.
He exuded peace, preached tranquility, seemed one with no internal strife.
“Is what you teach a religion?” “Are you a God?”
“Are these questions you should be asking of me?”, he replied with a nod.
“God is the essence of it all.
I’m here only to help and to guide, to pick you up should you fall.
I will push you and train you and prepare you for the many tests.
All I ask in return is that you give me your best.”
 
Back then we failed to recognize the treasure, the true worth of the gift,
wrapped up in this stern and guarded man,
from whom fairness, justice and unconditional love always came swift.
He showed us that we can make excuses for our shortfalls,
live a less than robust life, or, face the challenges as they unfold.
For each of us he helped build our core,
gave us a firm foundation from which to launch and to soar.
His words to this day give my life basis,
in my mind Sensei’s voice rings out, “there are no excuses!”

​I sleep under the stars and ponder at rest knowing today again, I did my best.
The trail is rigid, there are rules to abide.
You can’t ride from the truth, there’s no place hide.
I live the simplest of lives, my horse twelve hours I ride.
We do the chores of the day to put them aside.
It’s a tired me who now lays me down.
I worked the trail hard and never my stirrups touched the ground.
 
My horse Stoner and I have been together for seven years, our fates cast with the die.
Once in the saddle, I know the reason why.
We are no longer two but one. We think alike, he knows what to do.
He’s a hell of a lot smarter than the average human being, probably smarter than two.
He knows we’re solid, solid as can be.
I depend on him. He depends on me. We have a core pound for pound.
I’ll never roll him over. I’ll never let my stirrups touch the ground.
 
My dog Wyatt Earp is my next best friend.
He’s with me at day’s beginning and with me at day’s end.
He’s my traveling companion and works to capture a stray.
He’s never lost one yet, not one got away.
With a friend like Wyatt, I don’t need a crowd.
He’s got all my attention, our true friendship looms loud.
He’s a dog elitist but no blue blood, like me.
He came from a litter of mongrels he was number three.
 
So, the three of us under the skies we rest,
and dream we’ll be home with our sweetest best.
My gal who lets us do what we do,
who knew cowboys like us, weren’t meant for school.
No, my girl don’t have what those other ladies wear,
whose only job is to look good in the mirror they stare.
My gal is hardy, she rules the roost.
When daddy’s away, her truth is the truth.
Our relationship is better than fine. It has more solid worth than the deepest gold mine.
I’ve never cheated or looked at another woman, we're solid and sound.
‘Cause never, ever would I let my stirrups touch the ground.
 
Yes, I have it all, I live a cowboy life.
I have my horse, my dog, my kids and my wife.
I sleep under the stars and ponder at rest knowing today, I again did my best.
It’s a tired me who now lays me down.
I worked the trail hard and never my stirrups touched the ground.

I woke up on the other side of the bed
a peculiar story was unraveling in my head.
I felt different than I had a few hours before
I had a very strange feeling as my feet hit the floor.
What’s different now, what can’t I see?
A turmoil was wresting deep inside of me
and I tried very hard not to let it take hold.
The difference, I would soon learn was you, as you began to unfold.
 
My body was rocking, it was streaming through the day
 I wanted to go right, but you wouldn’t show me the way.
You’re antsy as hell and I tried quickly to review
as you stole my slumber from night and the morning sunshine too.
The fingers on my left hand broke away from the crowd of ten.
With a mind of their own, try as I might, they would no longer hold the pen.
What’s this about, I had no answers other than being blind-sided by it all.
I never saw you coming, you threw a blazing hard ball.
You’re shaking a whole lot more today, more than ever before.
This ain’t no picnic, I’m at bloody war!
 
What did I do to deserve my plight of late?
I either came in too quickly or came in too late;
whatever it was I couldn’t get through the gate.
Surely no one deserves this cruel fate.
We all have our crosses to bear,
and we must not forget those who, our suffering, they share.
The ones who support and care for us every day,
It’s a hell of a task, watching us melt away.
 
There’s 1600 plus cases of Parkinson’s on Boston’s north shore, I’m told.
Here’s 1601, with me now in the fold.
We are shaking and our voices are breaking
every day we deal with unpredictability,
but we fight on as we search for a cure to free you and me.
 
Michael J Fox, a hero to me, he’s the man of the hour
he stands tall and erect; he has superstar power.
For thirty-one years he’s fought the great fight,
he leads us through the darkness giving us hope, showing us the light.
It’s a new day and I continue to dance to your song,
no one else may hear it, it’s no sing along.

You have ravaged my body, and I may seem frail,
this disease has seemingly put us in Parkinson’s jail.
My mind and my spirit you will never take hold
I will live each day to the fullest, I will live my life bold.
While the battle is still being fought,
my life will not be strangled by the Parkinson’s knot.
On you bloody Parkinson’s, I declare full on war!