THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Saturday 30 March 2024

SHE'D JUST BEEN DRESSED AS GRIEF by Becky Hemsley

"SHE'D JUST BEEN DRESSED AS GRIEF"
by Becky Hemsley

I held a party the other week and grief came.

She wasn’t invited but she came anyway - barged her way in through the door and settled down like she was here to stay.

And then she introduced me to the friends she’d brought with her - Anger. Fear. Frustration. Guilt. Hopelessness.

And they sang in the loudest voices, took up space in every corner of the room and spoke over anyone else that tried to talk.

They made it messy and loud and uncomfortable.

But finally, they left.

And long afterwards, when I was all alone,

I realised there was still someone here.

Quietly clearing up after the rest.

I asked who she was and she told me, “Love.”

And I assumed that’s why she looked familiar - because I had met her before.

“Or perhaps,” she said, “it’s because I’ve been here the whole time.”

And I was confused then because I hadn’t seen her all evening.

But when I looked more closely,

when I looked into her eyes,

I realised quietly that she had been here.

All the time.

She’d just been dressed as grief.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

Image created with Canva

I share this poem a lot because I think it can be quite comforting to think of grief as simply love in disguise

‘Afterparty’ is from the book When I Am Gone

https://a.co/d/35WJcRh

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THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE by Tahlia Hunter

"THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE"
by Tahlia Hunter

“People in your life

are like passengers on a train

who come and go

at different stations.

Some are strangers,

others acquaintances,

and others, relatives, friends or lovers

who you may wish to remain with you always on your journey.

And when they have reached their stop

and it comes time for them to leave,

you may feel that they are leaving too early

and take it personally when they must go,

feeling that maybe if they could see how perfect you were together

or you had more time,

you could prove to them

that they should stay

and choose to be with you,

not realising that it is inevitable that they leave,

for your paths were only ever meant to intersect

for that moment in time

however brief it was

as they have their own path they must follow.

And they are not on the wrong path;

you are simply on different paths.

And their path in life

is not for you to know;

it is only for you to love them

as best as you can,

while supporting them on their journey

and trusting that sometimes the universe takes certain people away from you

on the path to bringing you where you’re meant to be.

And though it is beautiful when they stay,

it is also beautiful when they leave,

because sometimes you will meet someone so special to you

that after meeting them,

you are no longer the same

as you have been transformed for the better

and they have helped you to see life through new eyes.

And though you were not meant to travel the entire journey together,

you share the same ultimate destination

and will one day be reunited.

And in the meantime,

you may trust that for the people

you are yet to meet on your journey,

you will meet them

when you are not looking for love.

And though there are people

who when you look into their eyes,

it feels like you have known them for a thousand years,

this means that you must also have known thousands of others,

and that you are still to meet thousands more.”

*****

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Artwork by Katarína Vavrová Artist

All react

THE THREE REMEMBRANCES by Tahlia Hunter

"THE THREE REMEMBRANCES"

by Tahlia Hunter

"The first time you remember them,

you feel nothing but emptiness,

for you are mourning the loss of one

whose absence can never be replaced.

The second time you remember them,

you feel nostalgic,

recalling treasured memories

of precious moments shared,

with the person you so loved

who is no longer physically there.

But the third time you remember them,

you smile,

as you only feel love.

For you know in your heart that only love is real:

All else is a temporary experience.

And they have never truly left you,

for they remain with you always in spirit.

And you know that you were so lucky and blessed to have shared those precious moments with them while they lasted. And they will feel lucky watching over you as you go on to experience many more.

And they would not wish to see you remain sad,

but for you to experience every single joy and miracle that life has to offer

and celebrating your life

is the best way to celebrate them.

And reaching this moment

may take a week, a month, a year, or a lifetime,

but with every breath you take and smile you muster,

you are one step closer,

and one step closer to being reunited with them."

*****

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Artwork by Christian Schloe Digital Artwork

YOUR LIFE IS LIKE A PHOTO FRAME by Tahlia Hunter

"YOUR LIFE IS LIKE A PHOTO FRAME"
by Tahlia Hunter

"Your life is like a photo frame.

As people choose to enter and exit your life,

the photo contained within the frame changes.

You may wish for a certain person from your past

to remain with you,

as you have a snapshot in your mind

of a single moment in time that you shared

that was special to you.

But you must remember

that your memory of them, while precious

is not an accurate reflection

of who they are capable of being in the present,

for if they wished to remain in your life,

they would be there.

And you must not let their presence

or absence overshadow you,

for they are not the main person in the image,

and so you may choose to let them go with love

and shift your focus from them back to you,

trusting that though the people in the photo may change,

your vision of love will always remain.

And remember that your future holds so much more than your past.

And you must not focus on what has left

but on what will take its place

and the new beautiful, positive memories

that you are yet to create

for the best is yet to come,

as no one can ever truly take away your happy ending

as it is never dependent on another person,

but on you.”

*****

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein

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

Gorgeous image by Lisa Aisato

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

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

WE ONLY EVER GET JUST THE ONE LIFE

"WE ONLY EVER GET JUST THE ONE LIFE"
(author unknown)

I counted my years and found that I have less time to live from here on than I have lived up to now.

I feel like that child who won a packet of sweets: he ate the first with pleasure, but when he realized that there were few left, he began to enjoy them intensely.

I no longer have time for endless meetings where statutes, rules, procedures and internal regulations are discussed, knowing that nothing will be achieved.

I no longer have time to support the absurd people who, despite their chronological age, haven't grown up.

My time is too short:

I want the essence,

my soul is in a hurry.

I don't have many sweets

in the package anymore.

I want to live next to human people,

very human,

who know how to laugh at their mistakes,

and who are not inflated by their triumphs,

and who take on their responsibilities.

Thus human dignity is defended and we move towards truth and honesty.

It is the essential that makes life worth living.

I want to surround myself with people who know how to touch hearts, people who have been taught by the hard blows of life to grow with gentle touches of the soul.

Yes, I'm in a hurry, I'm in a hurry to live with the intensity that only maturity can give.

I don't intend to waste any of the leftover sweets.

I am sure they will be delicious, much more than what I have eaten so far.

My goal is to reach the end satisfied

and at peace with my loved ones

and my conscience.

We have two lives.

And the second begins when you realize you only have one.

Dancing with yesterday by Joanne Boyle

"Dancing with yesterday" by Joanne Boyle

The hot summer days

and hop scotch at night.

Playing hide and seek

under an old street light.

Dancing with laughter,

to the music of fun.

Playing tag with friends

the chase and run.

Two balls on the wall

as they bounced to a tune.

Keeping with the rhythm

and not a beat too soon.

Our jazz band sticks

all covered with tape.

A tennis ball on the end,

with some tassels to drape.

A game of chequers,

marbles and cats eyes.

An old skipping rope

with so many tries.

A Mother shouting

when it's time to go in.

A sibling hiding

behind the old dustbin.

A bath on a Sunday

before school began.

Deciding who went in first

before it was ran.

Winceyette sheets

under a cotton throw.

A bedside lamp

with a cosy glow.

Caring about everything

yet nothing at all.

Dancing with yesterday

when I was small.

*****

Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek