THE CORNER 4 WOMEN: January 2024

Tuesday, 30 January 2024

Inside Every Breath I Take

“Inside Every Breath I Take” (author unknown)

I’m just a child with closed eyes

Never seeing the world as its eternity dies

Innocence is just an illusion that plays

Until the realness of life of its darkness that stays

Inside every breath this man now takes

And sowing the seeds of my many mistakes

But, there are so many times I get mad at my fate

Constantly testing me with doubts about myself, love, and hate

As a boy, I crossed the line into a know-it-all teen

My naivetes taught me well what life and death mean

That death’s timing was off when 5 plates became 4

The eyes never see the scars but the pains are always more

My first drink was an illusion in another world to feel

There is always a price to pay when reality turns real

But there’s a temporary peace in the day for my hate and pain

I feel alive in my memories but with nothing to gain

To depress my depression I walk along the broken road

Finding new ways for my soul, to take away my heavy load

From this older man of broken years inside my every breath

Wiser not but still able, another day away from death

My ignorance is dying right inside of me

One step too many, my broken soul to never be

I hurt then I cry, then I overindulge in Hope’s smile

The broken road that I walk on, I’ll never see the last mile.

There are too many walls closing in, that are suffocating my head

Every night I search for an opening but it’s insanity that I’m fed

So I kill a black rose just to smell the freedom it exudes

A moment on the hand of a clock then back to my sullen mood

That I’m familiar with, so there’s no need to smile at a penny’s lost face

I’m a child in a reflection of mistakes, lost to myself and the whole human race

My eyes are now open to see my world lost to every decision that I’ve made

Living with my burdens of a hefty price but my death I have not yet paid.

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I PITIED MY OLD CLASSMATE

"I PITIED MY OLD CLASSMATE"
(author unknown)

I met an old class mate, we had not seen each other for about 30 years.

When I saw him again, this time at a hotel lobby, he was looking simple. He wore simple clothes. I felt touched.

He walked up to me and was glad to see me again. But deep within me I was not impressed with his status compared to mine and poor me, I couldn't hide it.

We exchanged contact details and I could see the joy in him as he collected mine.

I told him I would drop him home in my brand new Range Rover and I pointed it to him. He declined and said he had already called for his car. It looked old, a 2001 Honda Accord.

I invited him the next day for lunch at my house. A part of me wanted to impress him, to show off my success and affluence to him; while another was to discuss opportunities and possibly help him.

He drove to Parkview where I lived. He looked impressed with my home. I had taken a heavy mortgage. In fact, I was heavily in debt. We had lunch. He told me he was into small business and particularly real Estate. I brought up more business discussions, but he didn't sound too interested. I asked him how I could help him. He said he was fine. I even told him if he was interested, I could help him secure some loans. He looked at me and smiled.

He told me he would invite me over soon to his place. His old car came for him. I was grateful to God for what I had. “Fingers are not all equal" I thought to myself. I was lucky. I worked in a good place.

Two weeks later, my wife and I went to see him in a remote area. Initially, my wife was reluctant to go because she was not impressed with the man's status as to warrant our visiting him in his house.

I was able to convince her that we were close friends in College.

We saw the Estate. We asked for directions to his home. Those leading us spoke his name with deference.

It was a simple but lovely home. A 4-bedroom bungalow. I saw 4 cars parked in front. We entered his home. It was simply elegant with a touch of class inside. He welcomed us warmly.

Lunch was well served.

His wife called him Papa Onos.

During lunch, he asked about my MD. He said they were friends. I saw a company gift on one of his tables nearby. That company owned about 38% shares where I worked. I enquired from him about it. He smiled. He told me he owned the company. He also owned the Estate.

I did not know when I called him sir. I was in awe of him too.

I had learnt a lesson in humility, A big one. Appearances are deceptive. He noticed my discomfort.

Driving back home, I was very quiet. My wife was humbled and extremely calm. I could perceive the thoughts in her mind. I looked at myself. Living on loans, heavy loans and showing off while someone who pays my salary is quite modest and living a simple life.

Indeed Deeper Rivers Flow In Majestic Silence.

Adjust your perception towards others this year.

Read, learn and take a good step of change.

Stop rating people based on their physical appearance or level of education.

Concentrate more on how to better your life, than on how to impress people.

Have a lovely day ahead.

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IF ONLY by Joanne Boyle

"IF ONLY" by Joanne Boyle

If only I knew you wouldn't always be here,

to hold, to be held, to always be near.

To listen, to call, to know you are there,

when I had something I wanted to share.

If only I knew that one day you would go,

and there'd be more I'd want you to know.

A past, and a future. A lost and a found,

if I had only known you wouldn't be around.

If only I knew of the grief I would feel,

of the begging and hoping it wasn't real.

Of the years and times I took for granted,

of the growing seeds that you planted.

If only I knew of a moments value,

that it cost nothing just to be with you,

that the buried treasure was in my chest,

living proof that you were the best.

I wear a crown of memories on my head.

A love, a life that I now live instead.

I will represent each piece of you.

I'll live and love my whole day's through.

If only! If Only! If only I'd known.

I'd have clung so tight to stop you going,

but I am lucky to live without regret,

and proud of the memories I won't forget.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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Art by Steffi Krenzek

CHAPTERS by Becky Memsley

"CHAPTERS"
by Becky Memsley

We all of us have chapters

That we wish we’d never written

Pages that we’ve torn or burned

Or locked away and hidden

We all have masks and costumes

That we wish we’d never worn

And lines that we have spoken

That we wish could be withdrawn

We all of us have characters

We’d strike clean from the page

And maybe big decisions

That we’re desperate to change

And we are very tempted

To pretend they don’t exist

To tell a perfect story

Where these things are all dismissed

But do not hide those chapters

They’re your story’s little scars

And they’re crucial to your tale

Though you might not think they are

‘Cause without them all, your story

Isn’t quite the one you wrote

And we have to make mistakes

If we’re to learn what matters most

Yes, without them all your story

Will be hard to comprehend

Remember - some things only make sense

When we’re getting to the end

******

Becky Hemsley 2023

Artwork created on Canva

'Chapters' is the final poem in my most recent collection which can be found here https://a.co/d/a4voxi5

(or via an Amazon search for 'Becky Hemsley')

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Sunday, 28 January 2024

A love letter from those who have passed on by Tahlia Hunter

"A love letter from those who have passed on" by Tahlia Hunter

Take the love you have for me

And radiate it outwards

Allowing it to touch and impact others

Take the memory you have of me

And use it as a source of inspiration

To live fully, meaningfully and intentionally

Take the image you have of me in your mind

And allow it to fuel you

To take action

Seize the day

And be reminded of what is most important in life

Take the care you have for me

And let it remind you

To care for yourself fully

And shower yourself with your own love

And take the pain and grief you feel

Following my loss

And alchemize it into

Love, compassion and beauty

Build a castle

From the wreckage of my passing

And allow it to unlock your greatness and potential

And empower you to become more than you ever thought you were capable of being

And know that I can never truly leave you

And will always remain beside you

Watching over you in spirit

And that the love I have for you lives on

Through the connections you form

The kindness and compassion you share

And the future relationships and friendships you cultivate.

And until we are one day reunited

I will remain with you

Through the storms and chaos of life

And am always beside you

Walking with you, laughing with you, crying with you and smiling with you

And I am proud of you for being strong

I am proud of you for being brave

And I am proud of you for being you.

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

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CRUISE SHIP DIARY

"CRUISE SHIP DIARY" (author unknown)

DEAR DIARY - DAY 1

All packed for the cruise ship -- all my nicest dresses, swimsuits, short sets. Really, really exciting. Our local Red Hat chapter – The Late Bloomers decided on this "all-girls" trip.

It will be my first one - and I can't wait!

DEAR DIARY - DAY 2

The entire day at sea was beautiful. Saw whales and dolphins. Met the Captain today -- seems like a very nice man.

DEAR DIARY - DAY 3

At the pool today. Did some shuffleboard, and hit golf balls off the deck. The Captain invited me to join him at his table for dinner.

Felt honoured and had a wonderful time. He is very attractive and attentive.

DEAR DIARY - DAY 4

Won $800.00 in the ship's casino. The Captain asked me to have dinner with him in his own cabin. Had a scrumptious meal complete with caviar and champagne. He asked me to stay the night, but I declined. Told him I could not be unfaithful to my husband.

DEAR DIARY - DAY 5

Pool again today. Got sunburned, and I went inside to drink at the piano bar, and stayed there for the rest of the day. The Captain saw me, and bought me several large drinks. Really is quite charming. Again asked me to visit his cabin for the night. Again I declined.

He told me, if I did not let him have his way with me, he would sink the ship... I was shocked.

DEAR DIARY - DAY 6

Today I saved 2600 lives. Twice

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A STREET CALLED MEMORY LANE by Becky Hemsley

"A STREET CALLED MEMORY LANE"
by Becky Hemsley

He walked across the field

When he came upon a stile

And he almost turned around

‘Cause he’d already walked for miles

But then he heard a melody

That made him carry on

It was the faint and distant echo

Of an old familiar song

He walked towards the music

And it led him past a sign

To a row of houses starting at

The number ninety nine

And from that house the scent

Of childhood dinners filled the air

And he smelled the heady perfume

That his grandma used to wear

The next house on the path

Was somehow number thirty four

And it had a stained glass window

Of a rose within the door

He peered in through the window

Of the next house on the street

And he saw familiar photographs

Upon the mantelpiece

He heard some children laughing

So he looked over the fence

And he saw a young boy playing

In the garden with his friends

They were splashing in a paddling pool

And playing with a ball

They were practising their cartwheels

And their handstands at the wall

And something like… nostalgia

Made him stand there for a while

‘Til he tore himself away and turned

And headed for the stile

And it was then he passed the signpost

With an all-familiar name

And he realised he had just walked down

A street called

Memory Lane

*******

Becky Hemsley 2020

Stunning artwork by Pete Rumney

A little nostalgia for a Saturday evening here

Back in Time is from Talking to the Wild: https://a.co/d/dUUEv7n

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