THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Monday 19 February 2024

MOMENTS by Joanne Boyle

"MOMENTS"
by Joanne Boyle

Collecting Moments.

Today I collected moments

and put them in my pocket.

I then collected hope,

and put it in my locket.

I chose a moment for a blessing,

to pass on to another.

A gift of ever after,

from a father to a mother.

I picked a time of togetherness,

in case It's something I need.

I held on to generosity,

to overcome my greed.

I planted future moments,

like flowers that will grow.

I'll dig them out some time,

once the seeds do sew.

I'll give a moment to a friend,

and hope it brings a smile,

a one to look back on

every once in a while.

I'll wrap some up in love

and give them as a gift,

to be unwrapped at any time

that spirits need a lift.

I'll give moments to my family,

enough for them to measure,

the value of our memories,

is a priceless treasure.

My moments are my riches.

They are all I have to give,

and I shall treasure each one,

for as long as I shall live.

******

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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art by Steffi Krenzek

WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE by Tahlia Hunter

"WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE"
by Tahlia Hunter

When you know who you are

Other people can enter and exit your life

Without it rocking your world

As your foundation is solid and unshakeable

Because you have yourself.

When you know who you are

The opinions and judgements of others matter far less

And people can speak words of criticism, unkindness and malice about you

Without it affecting how you feel about yourself

When you know who you are

Other people can reject you or abandon you

Without it changing your identity

Because you know that your destiny is not tied to those who have chosen to leave you

And you feel whole and complete from within

When you know who you are

You appreciate

That putting your happiness and sense of self-worth

In the hands of another person

Is akin to making them your jailor

And remaining locked in a prison

That only they have the key to rescue you from

While liberating yourself

Means taking full responsibility

For your emotions, identity and wellbeing

And setting yourself free

To live and feel however you may choose.

And when you know who you are

Rather than devoting so much time and energy to trying to impress others

Or projecting the fulfilment of your own unmet needs and desires onto them

You choose to prioritise your own needs and wellbeing

And make time for your most important relationship

Which is with yourself.

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Artwork by Annie Hamman Art

TWO SISTERS by Joanne Boyle

"TWO SISTERS"
by Joanne Boyle

Two Sisters played together, passing stars down from the sky. Like a game of pass the parcel, were the same rules do apply.

Each star was wrapped in memories,

Five to be precise,

and no matter which way it turned,

the memory was always nice.

The Sisters hadn't aged at all,

though some would say one did,

but in the dreams they played in,

getting older was forbid.

They would meet in the same memory.

Laugh at times gone by.

Share tales from childhood years,

play catch, from earth to sky.

Sometimes they would sit and talk,

until night turned back to day,

but they would awake to find,

the star was there to stay.

******

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

art by Steffi Krenzek

THE PROPOSAL

"THE PROPOSAL"
(author unknown)

Your grandfather proposed to me with a piece of candy. We had nothing, he knelt down and told me: I have nothing now, just a piece of candy, but if you want we can build everything together.

And you? I opened the candy, divided it in two and we ate it. From that moment we divided and shared everything. We fell, we got up and we build.

All together. We have experienced difficult moments, tiredness, but we have always been there for each other. Until the last breath.

Other times, Grandma.

Time does not change the way of loving.

What has changed is that you no longer have beautiful examples to follow.

Now they are afraid of everything. They do not marry for fear of not being able to build. As soon as they fight, they leave because then they think they are going to find a better one. They always look for perfection, as if it existed.

They miss the perception of reality. Of happiness in the little things.

They do this big demo, thousand-dollar rings, over-the-top video for marriage proposals, and then they miss the moment. That intimate thing that you keep in two, only in two for a lifetime.

This is what they lack. The courage to live life and love for what they are and not for how they imagine it.

With a candy, love and courage, you have for a life together.

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

THE CAFE by Joanne Boyle

"THE CAFE"
by Joanne Boyle

She sat there in her nightdress,

at the cafe down the street.

A blanket around her shoulders,

the same day on repeat.

They knew just where to find her,

every time that she was lost.

The assistant served her tea,

regardless of the cost.

Her children stood and watched,

but they let her eat her bun,

as she reminisced about her life,

and her days of fun.

In her mind she was still twenty,

at least she was today.

But dementia has the power,

to take our moments away.

Mary never forgot the cafe,

where she had met her true sweetheart

the father of her children,

that she forgot at each days start.

Her sweetheart long gone now,

but not in Mary's mind,

she went back to the places,

in the hope for him she'd find.

Her children were so caring,

and approached their mum with care,

they asked if she minded,

if they sat upon the chair.

Mary shook her head.

Her thoughts had now moved on,

the couple looked familiar,

but where had her sweetheart gone?

She then looked at her Son,

and when he asked to take her home.

She looked at him and smiled,

and knew she was not alone.

******

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

art by Steffi Krenzek

Sunday 18 February 2024

KINDNESS by Becky Hemsley

"KINDNESS"
by Becky Hemsley

“But it made you strong!”

How often we are tempted to say this to someone when they’ve been through a difficult time.

And it may well be the case.

But chances are that they are feeling anything but strong. They are likely feeling

exhausted

shattered

weak.

And they need someone who recognises that. Someone who - for just a while - can be the strong one for them. Can offer them a shoulder to cry on and an arm to support them.

Yes, when they feel like that, they need to rest.

They need to recharge, recoup and regain the strength they’re being told they have inside of them.

Because what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. But it sometimes very nearly kills us -

exhausts us

shatters us

weakens us.

They didn’t want to have to be strong.

They wanted life to be kinder.

And as it wasn’t, it might help them more than we realise

If we bring the kindness instead.

******

Becky Hemsley 2023

Artwork by the talented Kaethe Butcher Illustrations

‘Kindness’ is from 'Letters from Life' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL9MZC1...

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

PLEASE STOP by Becky Hemsley 2024

"PLEASE STOP"
by Becky Hemsley 2024

Please stop saying sorry…

For the way your hair looks when you take off your hat

For the way your body looks in that outfit

And for the way you use your hands a lot when you talk

Stop apologising…

For the way your teeth show when you smile

And for the noise you make when you laugh

Stop saying sorry…

For not wearing make-up today

For your chipped nail polish

For wearing your favourite sweater again

Stop apologising for things that, to others,

are beautiful and endearing and charming.

Stop making them doubt something when they know it to be true; because they see it and hear it and feel it.

Please stop hating on the things they love most about you and stop undermining their opinion of you.

Stop making them second guess your beauty.

But most of all…

Please stop second guessing it yourself.

******

Becky Hemsley 2024

Gorgeous artwork by Snehal Pendurkar (@paintingbysnehal on Instagram)

This is a newer poem but if you like it, you might like others from my book ‘Letters from Life’ https://amzn.eu/d/ad7j2bV

(this is the UK link but if you search in Amazon, it should be available worldwide)

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Saturday 17 February 2024

IN REST THEY REMEMBER by Donna Ashworth

"IN REST THEY REMEMBER" by Donna Ashworth

Some people are slowly taken,

to the other realm.

Not physically, but mentally.

Memory by memory,

they are moved from us,

like a painstakingly slow house-move.

Boxes full of life,

chapters, people, loves.

All packed into a van,

to wait their arrival on the other side

And as these parts are removed,

those left feel lonelier daily.

As though their love is already leaving them.

It is a painful departure, my friends,

this much is sadly true.

But I like to think of the person we knew,

reaching the other side,

finally,

once more whole.

And upon arrival they see their boxes,

awaiting them so long,

and they open them up,

the chapters, the memories, the loves,

and reunite with them again.

I can feel that heartfelt joy

and it brings me joy too.

They are not lost for long,

though it may feel so.

In rest,

they remember it all.

******

Donna Ashworth

Art by the astounding Lisa Aisato, from her book ‘all the colours of life’

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html