HOW ARE YOU? by Becky Hemsley

"HOW ARE YOU?"
by Becky Hemsley

What time will you get in tonight?

Text me when you’re home

Be careful if you’re driving

Or if you’re out alone

Shout me if you need me

Or call me anytime

Hey, remember when we did that thing

And laughed until we cried?

Take a coat, it’s raining

Or shelter here with me

Let’s watch your favourite movie

I’ve made your favourite tea

I saw this and I thought of you

It really made me smile

Just checking in, I hope you’re well

I know it’s been a while

Have some fun at school today

But wear your hat - it’s cold

And look the road’s got busy now

So here’s my hand to hold”

We always hear and say these things

But rarely do we see

They’re just lots of little ways

Of saying what we really mean

See, if you listen carefully,

You’ll hear them everywhere -

All the messages of “I love you”

“You’re important” and “I care”

******

Becky Hemsley 2021

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Gorgeous artwork by Martina Heiduczek (martina_illustrates)

'How are you?' is from my second collection - What the Wild Replied

https://amzn.eu/d/6NrikFd

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THE FARMER AND THE LAWYER

"THE FARMER AND THE LAWYER"
(author unknown)

A big-city lawyer went duck hunting in rural North Alberta.

He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence.

As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing.

The litigator responded, "I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it."

The old farmer Peter replied, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here."

The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial lawyers in Canada and, if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own."

The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we settle disputes in Alberta. We settle small disagreements like this with the 'Three Kick Rule.'

The lawyer asked, "What is the 'Three Kick Rule'?"

The Farmer replied, "Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, I get to go first. I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up."

The lawyer quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger.

He agreed to abide by the local custom.

The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney.

His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel-toed work boot into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees!

His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer's last meal gushing from his mouth.

The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer's third kick to his rear end, sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.

Summoning every bit of his will and remaining strength the lawyer very slowly managed to get to his feet.

Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, "Okay, you old fart. Now it's my turn."

The old farmer smiled and said, "Nah, I give up. You can have the duck."

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BRIAN SULLIVAN

"BRIAN SULLIVAN"

(author unknown)

A man walked out into the Street and caught a Taxi just going by. He got into the Taxi and the driver said , "perfect timing mate you're just like Brian"

Passenger: " Who ?"

Driver: "Brian Sullivan. "He's the guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along just as you needed a cab , things like that happened to Brian every single time."

Passenger: "Surely not every time , there's always a few clouds over everybody"

Driver: "Not Brian. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won a grand slam at Tennis. He played Golf off scratch , could have been a pro. He sang like an Opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play Piano. He was absolutely amazing."

Passenger: "Sounds like he was something really special."

Driver: "There's more. He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody's birthday. He knew all about wine , which foods to order and what fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse and the whole Street blacks out. But Brian , he could do everything right."

Passenger: "Wow some guy then."

Driver: "He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me , I always seem to get stuck in them. But Brian he never made a mistake and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would NEVER answer back even if she was in the wrong ; and his clothes were always immaculate , shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man ! He NEVER made a mistake. No one could EVER measure up to Brian Suĺlivan."

Passenger: "What an amazing guy. How did you meet him?"

Driver: "Well , I never actually met Brian. He died. I'm married to his bloody widow."

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LIKE A BUTTERFLY by Tahlia Hunter

"LIKE A BUTTERFLY"
by Tahlia Hunter

“You are like a butterfly

that cannot see its wings.

You are far more beautiful

than you think.

For the beauty you see in others

is a reflection

of the beauty that exists within you.

And so you must trust in the process of your healing,

for there is a version of you that exists in the future

that is beyond what you could ever imagine,

that is possible only because of the version that you are today.

And as you slowly start to let yourself unfold,

you must not fear your magnificence,

for “too beautiful” does not exist,

and your greatness is the gift that keeps on giving,

for whenever another person glimpses it,

they are given the gift of seeing it in themselves.

And once you have grown,

it is possible for you to live a life in the outer world

that is a reflection of all the beauty, love, and joy

you have ever felt in your inner world.”

********

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Artwork by Duy Huynh Studio

Brought to you by https://thecorner4women.com together with our sister website http://www.nicheebookcollections.com and our growing e-book library available FREE, through our Newsletter sign up page here:-

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ON THE CAROUSEL OF LIFE by Tahlia Hunter

"ON THE CAROUSEL OF LIFE"
by Tahlia Hunter

On the carousel of life,

there will be many you encounter:

Some who you will meet only briefly

and some who will remain with you forever.

For your first love

is not always your last love,

and there are only two places

where love can ever exist:

here

and soon to arrive.

And though you may wish for them to remain with you,

not all connections are meant to last forever,

and once they have served their purpose,

it is no longer necessary to hold on to them.

And when it comes time

for one of you to leave,

it is not that one of you is greater or lesser,

but simply that you are no longer a fit for one another.

As in life:

we are only ever rejected

or left behind

by those who are wrong for us

or are not destined to remain with us

for the next part of our path.

But there is always another connection to find,

another place to belong,

and another person to love,

and loving one person

does not mean you have less to give to another,

for though love comes in a thousand different disguises,

it is the same love that lies beneath all.

And as you heal,

in time, your heart will whisper,

“Even though we did not find love forever,

I am grateful that we found love for this moment in time.

And I am glad that you found love elsewhere,

just as I have and will,

for there is always enough love to go around for all,

and I will always have love for you

with you in my life, or without.

And as the adage goes:

it is better to have loved

than not to have loved at all,

for all the love you have given,

you cannot lose,

as it remains with you forever.”

********

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Please note, this is not a piece about grief, it is a piece about overcoming rejection and heartbreak

Artwork by Duy Huynh Studio

Brought to you by https://thecorner4women.com together with our sister website http://www.nicheebookcollections.com and our growing e-book library available FREE, through our Newsletter sign up page here:-

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More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

SILVER LININGS by Becky Hemsley

"SILVER LININGS"
by Becky Hemsley

When the ocean waves engulf you

And there’s water all around

And when you feel you’re in so deep

You might as well swim down

When the forest’s looming darkly

And you can’t see your way through

When the trees are overbearing

And they’re closing in on you

When every path is dangerous

And treacherous to tread

And you decide to stop

And stay forever lost instead

Well…

I hope the sea is sapphires

That buoy you with their blue

I hope they shine a little

Of their precious light on you

I hope the forest prides itself

On all its emerald leaves

And helps you see your brilliance

Through the darkness of the trees

I hope your paths are gilded

And are lined with golden hues

Where ruby roses grow through grass

That shines with diamond dew

I hope you feel the sunshine

And the warmth that it possesses

I hope you see the way the clouds

Are shining at their edges

‘Cause there’s richness in the darkness,

When you’re lost, beneath the surface

There’s treasure waiting for you

And I promise you it’s worth it

So don’t give up or in

‘Cause pressure builds a precious stone

You’ve everything you need

And you are stronger than you know

So please keep going up and through

Keep walking, swimming, climbing

And keep on searching clouds for silver

Sewn into their linings

******

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Artwork by Elisa Roelofszen

'Silver Linings' is from 'Letters from Life' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL9MZC1...

Brought to you by https://thecorner4women.com together with our sister website http://www.nicheebookcollections.com and our growing e-book library available FREE, through our Newsletter sign up page here:-

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WITHOUT YOU by Donna Ashworth

"WITHOUT YOU"
by Donna Ashworth

After all the firsts without you

which came in like wrecking balls

I exhausted my memories of our lasts too

and felt as though a new grief had appeared

no more of these milestones left

so what now?

I thought the now must be without you

until I felt your smile

felt it warm my skin

as your song played out on the radio

and then that proud moment

the one I thought I’d never see

you were there at my shoulder

I knew it

when hard decisions arise

somehow your advice appears

as though you planted it inside me

before you left…

so here I am

greeting the robins you send me

counting the feathers you drop

and the rainbows you draw

realising

there is a new chapter of us

we are not done

it’s different

but it is something

and until we meet again

I will make it enough.

********

~ The 'Without You' by Donna Ashworth

~ Art 'Love Endures' by Gillian Rule Art

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SOME BODY by Becky Hemsley

"SOME BODY"
by Becky Hemsley

I’ve teeth that stick out just a little too far

I’ve marks on my body where I’ve gathered scars

I’ve parts of my person that wobble and shake

I’ve imperfect skin on my imperfect face

My hair’s hard to manage - it’s coarse and it’s thick

I’ve stripes on my waist, on my belly and hips

I’ve lines on my forehead and some round my eyes

I’ve dimples and dents that now live on my thighs

And I used to hide, I got used to concealing

I knew all my angles and how I should breathe in

But all of the scars are the times I’ve derailed

And got back on track and lived, telling the tale

The lines on my forehead and those round my eyes

Tell the stories of times that I’ve laughed ‘til I cried

And all of the inches and stripes on my hips

Are from carrying, growing and birthing my kids

My dimply thighs that all wobble and shake

Are the times I’ve said yes to the chocolate and cake

The times I’ve decided a moment means more

Than hiding and shrinking like I’ve done before

See I’m happy and healthy and that is what matters

Not whether I’m scarred for I’m thinner or fatter

‘Cause life is a rollercoaster to ride on

It’s here for us all to enjoy not to hide from

It isn’t a dress size or holiday snap

But moments in time that we’ll never get back

So let’s not spend moments that we can’t replace

Concerned with our bodies, our hair and our face

And let us embrace all the life that we’ve lived

Our bodies are breathing - and that is a gift

*******

Becky Hemsley 2022

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Gorgeous artwork by Anja Andresen Waage My Art Journal

'Some Body' is from What the Wild Replied https://a.co/d/fw5laoL

Brought to you by https://thecorner4women.com together with our sister website http://www.nicheebookcollections.com and our growing e-book library available FREE, through our Newsletter sign up page here:-

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More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html