Her book Hummingbird, Poetry on PSP & Parkinsons is a personal story of PSP & Parkinsons, told through poetry. In the introduction to the book Simpson explains that she chose to dedicate 30 poems to the task of spreading awareness of both PSP & Parkinsons Disease. She says “I chose to write poetry as a means to process how the PSP diagnosis has impacted my life but also to give voice to this journey for those who suffer its devastation and for their caregivers. Let my words comfort them, so that they know that they are not alone, and may my words enlighten others to the challenges and heartache they do not readily see.”
Parkinson’s disease is one of the fastest growing neurological degenerative diseases in the world. PSP, or progressive supranuclear palsy, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that few have ever heard of or understand and is often initially misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s. Her informational prose and heartfelt poetry are meant to spread awareness of this little-known disease.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1948, Ginda Simpson is one of twelve children. She has lived in Italy, Germany and Egypt and has traveled extensively. Educated in the United States and Italy, Ginda has degrees in Italian and French. Her real passions are painting and writing. A painter for over 40 years, her works are in many private collections in the United States, Italy, and Egypt. She has published several books, memoirs of her life and her travels, reflections on how different cultures and traditions have influenced and enriched her life. This is her first book of poetry.
Until recently, Ginda resided with her husband in the Umbrian countryside where she was daily inspired to record the beauty that surrounds her adopted home – with her pen or with her paintbrush. She now divides her time between her two homes – one in the tranquil countryside of Italy and the other on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She has been married to Mike Simpson for 52 years, has three daughters, and five grandchildren. All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information please call the St. Michaels Branch Library at 410 745-5877.
