I’m Paul Dennison, 61, retired and the person behind Life in Rhyme – Humour, Heart & Hope. Before Parkinson’s, I was used to the pace and noise of working in a busy office. Then my world changed.
A Welcome from Paul
Hi, I'm Paul, thank you for
considering this bookLoved writing these poems, once
I got the hookI've never been a writer and
not one for punctuationI can’t spell, but told I’m good
at communicationI have Parkinson’s, a stoma and
other health conditionsWhen there's nothing in the
tank that's when poems get additionsThese poems are varied, some
made me cryThey are all constructed in my
mind, but the images are AISome are observational and some
reflectiveFantasy, humour, and reality
complete the collectiveSome of the contents are quite
personal and come from withinWe all battle with health
conditions, so I thought I’d let you in
Where it began
I live in Torquay, Devon, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2018. I went from that busy office to experiencing extreme anxiety. I didn’t understand what was happening to me—it felt as though I had been punched between the eyes. Now retired, I write about what is happening to me and the experiences of other Parkinson’s peeps I meet along the way.
Come into my poetry and you’ll find people, moments and real stories brought to life in rhyme. Some will make you think, some may move you and others are simply there to make you laugh. I’m intrigued to discover where Life in Rhyme will take me next.
— Paul Dennison
What started as a few rhyming poems gradually developed into Life in Rhyme: books, spoken word, songs, videos, Parkinson’s awareness, fundraising and a growing community.
My poems are honest, sometimes emotional, occasionally rude and often shaped by dark humour. They cover Parkinson’s, dementia, grief, family, resilience and everyday life—but they also explore the daft, silly and wonderfully absurd side of being human.
The writing is self-reflective, open, honest and, at times, raw. I had to think very carefully about whether I was ready to open myself up emotionally and share such personal experiences. I decided it was worth doing if my words could help other people living through difficult times—and help carers, family members and loved ones understand a little more about what that experience can feel like from the inside.
The books
I have published three books: Humour, Heart & Hope – Life in Rhyme, Life in Rhyme V2 – Poems for the Parkinson’s Crew and The Daft, Silly & The Rest.
Three of my poems were also selected for the Red Thread Poetry Project at the World Parkinson Congress 2026 in Phoenix.
Life with Stanley
In 2021, two major operations left me living with an ileostomy. I named my stoma Stanley, and humour helped me adjust to a life-changing experience. Stanley is an important chapter of my life and inspired three poems in Book 1.
Meet Stanley in Humour, Heart & Hope
Poems to songs
Some of my poems have made another journey—from words on a page into songs. Every book, poem and lyric is written entirely by me. AI enters only afterwards, when I adapt a finished poem into a song, helping to create the music and vocals.
The project has produced Life in Rhyme V3 – The Album and Behind the Mask, a more personal collection about living with Parkinson’s from the inside.
Behind the Mask explores the things people may see and the many things they don’t: the erosion of personality, anxiety, fatigue, fear, frustration and the effort required to keep believing in yourself.
Parkinson’s Crew
Life in Rhyme has also grown into Parkinson’s Crew, a Facebook community where people affected by Parkinson’s can share experiences, messages, poetry, music and support.
This includes people living with Parkinson’s, carers, family members, nurses, specialists and everyone else walking alongside us.
Awareness and purpose
Life in Rhyme is about more than selling books or releasing songs. Its purpose is to encourage people to talk, share and care.
Parkinson’s has taken a great deal from me, but it also uncovered a talent for writing that I never knew I had. Through fundraising and advocacy, I want to use that talent to give something back—to support the Parkinson’s community, increase understanding and help make a positive difference.
I want to raise awareness of Parkinson’s while helping people feel understood and less alone.
This has included appearances with Parkinson’s UK, BBC Radio Devon and Hospital Radio Torbay, along with the UK’s first Parkinson’s Pickleball fundraiser at Torquay Lawn Tennis Club. All profits from Life in Rhyme books and music are donated to Parkinson’s charities, including Parkinson’s UK.
The objectives
- Create honest poetry from real experiences
- Connect people through humour, heart and hope
- Raise awareness of Parkinson’s and its hidden symptoms
- Support Parkinson’s UK through fundraising
- Experiment with new ways of sharing poetry
- Encourage people to talk, share and care
- Keep creating, keep laughing and enjoy the journey