A.S. Face 0397: Al Shuryan

I finally decided I wanted to put myself out there, maybe to help someone else.

I’m 57 years old. Had A.S. now for 37 years.

My A.S. took 4 years to diagnose. Those 1st years were horrible with

everything disguised, hidden and unconvincing. Once found the

first medication had me crying on the floor. 1st surgery messed things up.

I can sum up my journey with this disease in 2 poems.

In the early days it was:

You Don’t Know My Pain

Al Shuryan

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

YOU ONLY THINK YOU DO

YOU LIVE OFF THE SADNESS

AND PLAY WITH THE MADNESS

QUESTION OUR SANITY

WHILE FEEDING YOUR VANITY

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

UNTIL IT SUITES YOU

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

YOU ONLY THINK YOU DO

CUT ME OPEN

AND PUT ON HANDS

SEW ME UP

THEN MAKE YOUR PLANS

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

YOU ONLY CLAIM YOU DO

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

YOU ONLY THINK YOU DO

PRETEND TO CARE

IT’S SO UNTRUE

THAT MASK YOU WEAR

LOOKS GOOD ON YOU

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

YOU FOOLED ME TOO

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

YOU ONLY THINK YOU DO

LIGHT ME UP

RADIATE ME

TURN ME INSIDE OUT

EMERSE ME IN A CHEMICAL GLOW

INTERRUPT SENSES FLOW

COVER IT ALL UP

DON’T LET ANY SHOW

ANOTHER SEASONS MIGRATION FLOWN

FIND ME UNDER A SHEET OF SNOW

LETTERS ON A GRANITE STONE

BOIL ME UP IN YOUR CAULDRON

WIND TO ASHES THROWN

YOU DON’T KNOW MY PAIN

I’LL ASK NO FAVORS FROM YOU

YOU’LL NEVER KNOW MY PAIN

Then 25 years or so I taught myself how to calm many things and it’s more like this now;

A Tree In the Woods

Al Shuryan

There’s a tree in the woods where I like to go

Life is abound but shy to show

Munks scurry and play, A fox runs by

Squirrels bury treasures for another day

The crows are now atop my tree

So much noise and no sky to see

Hawks gliding currents all goes silent and disappear

Silence so peaceful so quite I feel

It calm my soul and help to heal

The peace and beauty from some great creator

This outdoor stage is my theater

My church, my sanctuary, play just for me

Visual delights, natures ecstasy

More exciting than any TV, suddenly an encore

A stomp, a huff, a very loud snore

There’s a large buck with antlers galore

My heart so loud I’m sure he can hear

The rush, the joy, a grateful tear

I come to realize it’s not his nor mine

This is OUR place in time Visit the woods and you could see

How wonderful and healing a tree can be

Michigan United States of America

7 Responses to “A.S. Face 0397: Al Shuryan”

To cool Al. I just got back from the woods. They’ve always been my sactuary too. The forest is the visible perfection of God. The trees have never lied to me. Thee is no evil in the woods. Sunlight breaking through the clouds. Warm sun on your back. To cool.

Derek said this on May 3, 2012 at 1:33 am | Reply
Dea Al,
Thank you so much for being a part of my vision. I absolutely love your poerty, so beautiful.
Sincerely Cookie

Cookie Has A.S. said this on May 3, 2012 at 9:00 pm | Reply
Ya know Al, I was just re-reading you’re “second poem”, and I think I’m going to cut it out and tape it to my wall (along with all the other “post it’s”). Thanks. It is nice to see an “elder AS’er” (wouldn’t say that to a lady would I), who has made peace with AS. You’re an inspiration to this “slightly less elder AS’er Al. Thanks.

Derek said this on May 4, 2012 at 6:19 pm | Reply
- Thank You Cookie and excellent job with this site, labor of love…^5
  
  Alfred A Shuryan said this on May 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm | Reply
  - You are so welcome, it is a labor of love… perfect ! thank you
    
    Cookie Has A.S. said this on May 5, 2012 at 2:55 pm
- Thank You Derek, means alot to me. Anytime you like to chat I’mm the same name on Face Book, I’ll be runnin my Computer Mod/Build groups almost 24/7 as I Kick AS…!,,!, rock on
  
  Alfred A Shuryan said this on May 5, 2012 at 2:57 pm | Reply
I have my reading cut out for me on your site Cookie…looking forward to sharing stories for verse…

Alfred A Shuryan said this on May 5, 2012 at 3:02 pm | Reply

Our Stories

© Cookie Hopper and The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis , 2011. There is an implied agreement and permission granted to Cookie Hopper and the Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis that the participants photo/story will be used only in order to raise awareness for Ankylosing Spondylitis. There will be no monetary value gained by either party. The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis agrees to uphold the integrity and honor of each individual’s story when doing projects to raise awareness, and will be a mutual agreement of both parties involved. Once a photo & bio are submitted to Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis ( Cookie Hopper) , heretofore known as "Faces," the individual submitting to Faces gives permission for Faces or its representatives or organizations coordinating with or whose services are retained by Faces or the invisible illness or Ankylosing Spondylitis community to use the image/likeness, name, & your bio or portions of bio as written, from the moment of submission, for as long as Faces exists as a website and/or organization. All submissions become the property of Faces, and upon submitting, participants grant full rights to the submitted images & bios to Faces, and the right to use & name in connection to activities of Faces, from now into eternity, in all forms of media, including new media, and agree that they are the property of Faces from submission until dissolution of the organization." Once included the removal will not be possible due to being number, but every possible action will be made to change any information if you feel the need for it to be. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without expressed and written permission from this blog’s author and writer of the individual story is strictly prohibited and legal recourse may be taken in the event of this happening. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Cookie Hopper] [individual author of the story] [The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. COPYRIGHT and TRADEMARK NOTICE ©2012. There are underlying copyright interests in the various works of authorship associated with this the faces of ankylosing spondylitis. These copyright and trademark interests may not be reproduced and redistributed, with or without alteration in whole or in part, unless prior written permission provided by Cookie Hopper of Alvin, Texas US 77511, along with the individual author of the story. Trademark name “The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis” and " I Am The Face Of Ankylosing Spondylitis" name has been approved and acquired by Cookie Hopper February 10, 2012. Others wishing to use this name or logo are hereby requested to contact the owner Cookie Hopper to discuss their interest before doing so. The Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis Trademark number is 40671 The stories submitted may not be used without the original author’s permission, along with Cookie Hopper, which you may acquire by submitting a request to Cookiehasas@aol.com. The phrase I am the face of ankylosing spondylitis and the phrase the faces of ankylosing spondylitis are protected under the copy right and trademark laws. By submitting your photo & bio to Faces of Ankylosing Spondylitis (Cookie Hopper) you enter into a legal and binding agreement on both parties side. Cookie Hopper agrees there will be no selling of the stories or monetary value gained. Cookie Hopper agrees to uphold the integrity and honor of each individual’s story when doing projects to raise awareness, and will be a mutual agreement of both parties involved. This site is protected under the Trademark and Copy right laws. 40671 as of January 2012.

%d bloggers like this:

The Faces Of Ankylosing Spondylitis