AN ODE TO MS w/Allié McGuire

Poetry has always been a quiet refuge for me—a place where emotion can take shape, where thoughts find rhythm, and where even the heaviest burdens feel a little lighter when transformed into verse.

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I struggled to articulate the uncertainty, the fear, and the resilience required to meet each day. Words, however, gave me a way forward. They gave me a voice.

MS is unpredictable. Some days my body listens, moves, and cooperates. Other days, it resists. But no matter what, I write. Poetry allows me to process what my body feels before my mind fully understands it. It’s where I can name my frustration, acknowledge my strength, and reclaim my power.

My poem ‘Because I Can’ was born from this need to reaffirm my own agency. With each line, I remind myself of what I can do, even in the face of limitations. Poetry doesn’t just help me cope—it helps me redefine what’s possible. It is my resistance to defeat and my celebration of perseverance.

​BECAUSE I CAN
By: Allié McGuire​

Some sit still, 
let life just span, But I choose to move — 
because I can.

A butterfly’s wings don’t break; 
they fan, Delicate, yet strong — 
because I can.

The ink of my story 
written by hand, It’s bold, it’s mine — 
because I can.

Each mile I run, 
though tough to plan, I push ahead — 
because I can.

MS challenges
who I am, But I rise above — 
because I can.

The ground may quake 
beneath where I stand, Yet I stay steady — 
because I can.

Like rivers that flow 
to meet the land, I carve my path — 
because I can.

These scars are proof 
of where I began, But not where I’ll go — 
because I can.

When wings grow weary, 
I flex my span, To soar some more — 
because I can.

So let them see 
this woman who ran, And keeps on running — 
because I can.

​Writing poetry is a form of movement, just like running. It propels me forward, allowing me to transform pain into purpose. Each stanza is a step. Each verse is a breath. And in the space between words, I find my own strength echoing back at me.

For those facing adversity, whether it’s MS or something else, I encourage you to find your own form of expression. Whether it’s poetry, painting, music, or movement—let it be your voice, your solace, and your reminder that you are more than your struggles. You are your strength. And you can. ∎

Learn more about 'Because I Can':
​www.becauseicanfilm.com