In the world of MS, balance isn’t just physical — it’s poetic. And when balance goes missing, rhyme steps in. One of the lesser-known, but most peculiar, symptoms is loss of proprioception — your body’s sense of position in space. When this sense misfires, it can feel like your feet have wandered off without you. But rather than stumble into despair, we’ll tumble into nonsense, and meet the curious fellow who’s never quite where he thinks he is.
The Man Who Misplaced Himself Entirely
Introduction to verse
Proprioception is the body’s built-in GPS — a silent sense that tells you where your limbs are without needing to look. But when MS disrupts this system, it can feel as though you’re walking on stilts made of jelly, or reaching for objects that have floated off-centre. Loss of proprioception doesn’t just make you clumsy — it can make you doubt your own body. This verse imagines one such gentleman who has lost all bearings, both literal and otherwise, and finds himself in the most unexpected positions.
Loss of Proprioception
Sir Humphrey Noggin lost his knee,
It wandered off to brew some tea.
His elbows sang the waltz in French,
His toes declared themselves a trench.
He reached to scratch behind his ear,
But found his thumb was nowhere near.
He stood up straight (or so he thought),
But found his chin in a flowerpot.
His trousers spun from East to West,
While buttons vanished from his vest.
His spine performed a hula jig,
While both his arms played leapfrog… big.
“Where is my leg?” he calmly said,
While stepping backwards on his head.
His walk resembled modern art,
With limbs that never played their part.
He wore a watch upon his knee,
And tied his tie with celery.
The world applauded, all bemused —
But Humphrey simply looked confused.Reflection
Loss of proprioception sounds like a technical quirk, but it has very real consequences. When your sense of bodily position falters, tasks like walking, reaching, or even standing still can become bewildering. You may feel “disconnected” from your own limbs or unsure of how you’re moving through space. This can lead to falls, frustration, and an eerie sense of alienation. But through nonsense verse, we regain a bit of control. We get to play with the absurdity — turning confusion into creativity and laughter into language.
The following links may give you a better sense of self:
Forgetting why you came into the room is not a loss of proprioception but is equally confusing,
Conclusion
While loss of proprioception can make everyday life feel like a drunken dance, it doesn’t have to rob you of your dignity or humour. The more we give shape to these strange symptoms — through rhyme, storytelling, or even pure nonsense — the more manageable they become. You might lose track of your elbows, but you don’t have to lose your voice.
For more whimsical relief from life’s strange sensations, explore the full collection in Nonsense Verse: Joyful Gems for MS Minds.
Loss of proprioception may unhinge your balance and blur your body’s map, but in the theatre of nonsense, even the most misdirected limbs can take a graceful bow.
This playful nonsense verse explores the bewildering experience of loss of proprioception — when your body’s internal compass goes haywire. Through the misadventures of Sir Humphrey Noggin, it turns this MS symptom into a whimsical tale of misplaced limbs and offbeat charm, offering laughter where there’s usually confusion.
Loss of proprioception can feel like your body’s forgotten its choreography — every step uncertain, every gesture misaligned. But by embracing the absurd and letting rhyme guide the way, we take back a measure of control. In laughter, we rediscover balance — not in the body, perhaps, but in the spirit, the imagination, and the quiet joy of turning neurological chaos into creative expression, one wobbly stanza at a time.
We started this exciting, nonsensical journey from landing page for this section.
