Shirley Clayden2012 -- my poetry book was accepted for publication, I hit 50 and it was our silver wedding anniversary. I've been confined to bed for 22 of those years with severe M.E. and my husband Paul is in remission from bowel cancer so life has been and contnues to be tough. My days are simple, very structured with large chunks of enforced rest periods so the small windows of activity I have I treasure. I am happiest when I can create -- be it poetry, card making, taking photos or watching tennis -- big Murray fan hence he has a poem all to himself. I spend so much time and energy battling symptoms but I hope they send a message that you can still achieve some small things in life, no matter what your circumstances. I try to maintain a positive attitude concentrating and getting the best out of what I can do not what I cannot. I also hope my poems raise awareness about M.E., maybe give some understanding to those who read them. We certainly are not given the recognition or funding we deserve especially for research and are forced to fight the system as well as a serious organic neurological condition. I wish to donate all net profits from royalties to invest in M.E. -- a UK charity who strive to do just that. However they are not all about the illness but are a mixed bunch of poems from funfair, fish, first day at school to footprints in the snow. For me they are a means of escape to a place beyond the bed borders where I am in control and I can feel alive - just for a short while. Read More Read Less