Our first ever Parkinson’s Life poetry competition attracted entries from around the world. Ahead of our interview with the winner next week, we caught up with runner-up Marc Woodward, on everything from how Parkinson’s “crept up on him” aged 54, what’s on his ‘bucket list’ – and the inspiration behind his fantastic poem ‘San Francisco’
The global response to our first ever poetry competition was overwhelming. It was a delight to read all of our reader’s poems, and a real challenge narrowing it down to just two entries. After careful deliberation we are delighted to announce Marc Woodward, who works in financial services and is based in Devon, UK, as our runner-up.
Marc, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, wrote his winning poem ‘San Francisco’ while on a writing retreat in Santa Cruz, US. The poem, which deals with feelings of nostalgia, hints at symptoms of the condition and references the idea of the ‘bucket list’ – all set against the colourful backdrop of San Francisco, US – really tells a story.
We caught up with Marc, who told us about his passion for poetry and music, his experience of the condition and why he doesn’t want to be known as ‘a poet with Parkinson’s’.
Why did you enter our competition?
I write a lot of poetry anyway, and I have Parkinson’s so I thought I should have a go! I don’t enter a lot of competitions usually.
Have you been published before?
I published a collection of poetry called ‘Hide Songs’ in 2018. My poetry has also featured in various publications and journals.
Are you a full-time poet?
Unfortunately not. I work in financial services. Every poet has a day job, even the greats. T.S. Eliot was a bank manager. I think it’s good to have a day job, as you need outside stimulus instead of just burying your head in books all the time.
When were you diagnosed with Parkinson’s?
I was diagnosed in January 2016 but I had been having symptoms for years without any idea what Parkinson’s was. I noticed that when I was playing music, I wasn’t moving as smoothly as before. I couldn’t play like I used to, and I just put it down to getting old. Parkinson’s crept up on me and I didn’t even realise it.
What was the inspiration behind ‘San Francisco’?
I wrote it while on a writing residency in Santa Cruz, US, last October. In the 80s I wanted to go to San Francisco to play music, but never did, which the poem reflects on. Finally, I went last year. So, it’s to do with a bit of a ‘bucket list’ thing really.
When you have Parkinson’s, you are looking down the barrel of a gun that has been fired with a bullet coming very slowly towards you. I decided I needed to make the most of the opportunities that come a long. That’s the positive side of the disease, you think “maybe there’ll be a cure one day” but in the meantime you need to just do things that you’ve always wanted to do.
Tell me about your experience of Parkinson’s.
So far, I’m really trying to reduce stress in my life, especially work-related stress. Sadly, I don’t play gigs any more, which had been a central part of my life for a long time. I can play okay, but I can’t play like I once could. It just doesn’t feel the same anymore. Parkinson’s has knocked my self-confidence, but it has also encouraged me to (as much as it is a cliché) ‘live for the moment’.
Do you find writing an outlet for your Parkinson’s?
I’m not sure. ‘San Francisco’ was not actually meant to be about Parkinson’s. It was meant to be about San Francisco but Parkinson’s came sneaking in! I am trying to avoid writing about Parkinson’s too much really, because I don’t want it to define me. I don’t want to be the ‘poet with Parkinson’s’. I just want to be who I am.
Who is your favourite poet?
There are lots. I like Edward Thomas, the British nature writer. I love the American writer Billy Collins, and Robert Frost. When writing ‘San Francisco’ I drew inspiration from all of them, but the poem’s particular narrative, spoken style comes from Billy Collins. Most of the stuff I usually write is very nature oriented.
