THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Sunday 7 January 2024

DATE NIGHT by Becky Hemsley 2022

"DATE NIGHT"
by Becky Hemsley 2022

I met the moon for coffee

It was Friday night I think

When she watched me hardly sleeping

And invited me for drinks

We found ourselves a table

In the middle of the night

And the constellations twinkled

Like a thousand fairy lights

She asked me how I’d been

As she poured coffee from a pot

For she said she’d watched me

Waking up at midnight quite a lot

I said my brain was far too full

My mind was always on

And when I woke it felt as if

I was the only one

The only one who lay awake

Whilst I sat on my bed

With thoughts that raced at lightning speed

Around my busy head

The only one who watched the clock

Tick one and two and three

Who laid awake and worried

Whilst the world was fast asleep

My thoughts were stuck in orbit

And I couldn’t pull them back

As they preferred to swim against

A sky so vast and black

The moon said simply nothing

But she opened up a book

And I saw it was a diary

So I took a closer look

And listed there were names of people

All around the world

And all the thoughts and worries

That the moon had overheard

Just then, my eyes were drawn towards

The name that was my own

And that was when the moon said

“See, you shouldn’t feel alone”

And then she pulled me close

Using the night sky as a blanket

And said “I know you sometimes feel

So lonely on this planet

But when you cannot sleep,

Get up and watch me from your room

And you’ll see so many others

Having coffee with the moon”

********

Becky Hemsley 2022

Artwork created with Canva

Date Night is from my second collection https://a.co/d/eXEdgYT

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TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY by Mother truths

"TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY"
by Mother truths

You will eventually relax into this. I promise.

One grey afternoon, you'll be making dinner, whilst your ridiculously cute three-year-old sous-chef sits atop the kitchen counter, crumbling Oxo cubes and sniffing thyme.

With one arm cautiously holding her in place and the other haphazardly grating cheese, you'll finally feel at home in this not-so-new skin of yours.

You'll hand her a secret slice of cheddar and jokingly whisper "Shhh!", the same way that your Dad used to.

She'll look up at you, face beaming, delighted with her unexpected tit bit.

It hits you. You're enjoying this.

Finally, all the other stuff that once felt so immediate, will start to leave you. The tiredness. Oh, the tiredness that you thought would haunt you forever. The constant doubting of your own ability, that you thought would never leave you alone. The fear that you will never, ever, get the hang of this.

Because you will, my love.

Not every day. But some of the days. And that is a welcome breakthrough.

And all the rest will slowly fade into the deep recesses until the enduring feeling you're left with is,

"I love you. I love you. I love you".

Today was a good day.

--------------------------

Art : Leanne Crowe https://www.instagram.com/leannecrowe?igsh=MW1vZXN3NWE0ZWF0OA==

Words: Mother Truths

Taken from "Warm Like Summer: Little Stories of Early Motherhood" Available to buy worldwide on Amazon: https://linktr.ee/mother_truths

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BIRDSONG by Becky Hemsley 2021

"BIRDSONG"
by Becky Hemsley 2021

She walked along the pathway

And she hadn’t walked for long

When she met a little bird

Who sang a melancholy song

She listened for a moment

To his sad, enchanting sound

And she asked him why he sang his song

When no-one was around

“I sing to tell the forest

That the day has just begun

And I join the morning chorus

As we’re welcoming the sun

I sing so all the other birds

Will know they’re not alone

And I hum to all the trees

To help their leaves and branches grow

I sing for all the creatures

As they go about their day

And I whistle warnings to the sky

That clouds are on their way”

“But why,” she asked him gently

“Is your song so bittersweet?

Why does it sound like longing

And like yearning when you tweet?”

“I sing to feel less lonely,”

Said the tiny, little bird

“And I tweet into the quiet

Just so I can feel heard

For when the sun is busy,

When the other birds have flown,

When the trees are climbing skyward

Then I’m left here on my own

And I sing to ask the questions

That are tearing through my mind

But I don’t know what I fear the most

Silence… or the reply”

*****

Becky Hemsley 2021

Gorgeous artwork by Anja Andresen Waage My Art Journal

Birdsong is from my first collection https://a.co/d/2EwpQur

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Saturday 6 January 2024

Grandma, I'm tired. So tired of this life by Elena Bernabè

"Grandma, I'm tired. So tired of this life" by Elena Bernabè

"Take your tiredness, my child, and wrap it around yourself.

Like a blanket in the cold winter months. Tiredness comes to make you a nest, to bring you to wear comfortable clothes, to make you sink into its warm embrace.

I invite you to stay within yourself. Without strength, without thoughts, without actions.

Like the snow that covers everything to soften the world, to make it muffled, to protect it from noise. Accept the flakes of your tiredness and let yourself be completely covered by them."

"I could die buried under there..."

"You will be reborn instead. Like the seed in the ground.

Do not resist your weariness, do not reject it with a thousand actions, a thousand intentions, a thousand feelings of guilt.

It just wants to take you by the hand and lead you to sink into the void. Right there, where the source of every inner strength lies.

They taught us to be strong by resisting. But it is in surrendering that the true heroes emerge."

"I'm afraid, grandmother. What if fatigue will annihilate me?"

"My child, you are not afraid of tiredness but of losing control of yourself.

The time has come for you to give yourself to life. And to generate together with it the most wonderful children: the fruits of your soul !"

Artwork : Hannah Thomas

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I WILL TREASURE THEIR COMPANY by Tahlia Hunter

"I WILL TREASURE THEIR COMPANY"
by Tahlia Hunter

"I cannot control whether or not another person chooses to stay or leave. I can only control how I choose to show up each day and work towards becoming the best version of myself. And so I trust that this person is entering my life for the reason they are meant to at this time and I will treasure their company and let this connection unfold in the way that it is meant to, whether it lasts for a day, a month or a lifetime.

And it matters not whether they leave, as I have learned to love my own company and not need another and I will never leave myself. For this is the foundation for all positive relationships.

And if I truly love another person, then I will want what is best for them, and if that is for them to not be with me, then I will let them go with love, knowing that if they are ever meant to return, they will, and if not, them leaving makes space for those who are still meant to come.

And if I ever find myself missing them, I will remind myself that what I love and admire most in them also exists within me and I can be that for myself now. And every positive emotion I experienced in their presence, I created within myself and can experience just as strongly in their absence.

And when they leave, it is not a reflection of my worth,

it is simply that our paths are no longer aligned

as we are travelling in different directions.

And if I feel that they failed to truly see me or appreciate me,

I will never take their actions personally

and remind myself

that it wasn't that they didn't love me,

but they loved me

from the level from which they could love."

Words by Tahlia Hunter https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein

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The Valentines Meal by Joanne Boyle

"The Valentines Meal" by Joanne Boyle

I called on you tonight,

did you feel me touch your hair?

When you walked into the restaurant

did you know that I was there?

Your smile is that of stardust.

Your hand so soft to touch.

It's time to let me go now,

though you miss me very much.

Your eyes twinkle in the moonlight.

I reach to wipe your tear.

it's OK for you to be there,

as I am no longer here.

I called on you tonight,

and I shall for evermore

For now I'll leave this table, and

walk back through heavens door.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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

Art by Steffi Krenzek

Thursday 4 January 2024

The Moonstone Mask by English With Mia

"The Moonstone Mask" by English With Mia

In a small village nestled between rolling hills, there lived a young girl named Lily. Lily was known for her kindness and her love for stories. She often wandered into the forest, seeking tales hidden within the rustling leaves and whispering winds.

One day, as she roamed the woods, she stumbled upon an ancient mask crafted from shimmering moonstones. The mask had intricate patterns, resembling the phases of the moon, and it sparkled like a celestial treasure under the sunlight filtering through the trees.

Curiosity tingled within Lily's heart. She carefully picked up the mask, feeling the smoothness of the moonstones against her fingers. The moment she held it, a magical sensation enveloped her. She felt as though the mask held secrets waiting to be unveiled.

As evening fell, she returned home, carrying the moonstone mask with her. That night, while the village slept, Lily placed the mask on her bedside table. To her astonishment, the moonstone mask softly glowed, casting a gentle light that danced across her room.

She reached out tentatively and touched the mask. Suddenly, a mystical melody echoed in the air, filling her room with enchanting music. Mesmerized, Lily found herself transported to a world where the moon itself seemed closer than ever.

In this magical realm, the moonstone mask transformed into a beautiful guardian spirit named Luna. Luna, with her silver-white gown shimmering like moonbeams, guided Lily through the wondrous land.

Together, they ventured across shimmering lakes and fields bathed in moonlight. They encountered creatures of fantasy and heard tales from distant stars. Each encounter filled Lily's heart with awe and wonder.

One evening, as the moon shone brightest in the sky, Luna revealed the mask's purpose. The moonstone mask was a symbol of protection and courage. It held the power to illuminate the darkness and unveil the beauty hidden within.

With newfound understanding, Lily returned to her village, wearing the moonstone mask. She felt a newfound confidence and a sense of warmth emanating from the mask's glow. People marvelled at the change in her, sensing a serene aura surrounding her.

Lily shared her experiences, captivating the villagers with tales of her adventures alongside Luna. She told them of the wonders beyond the mundane, encouraging them to find magic in the ordinary and courage in their hearts.

From that day forward, the moonstone mask adorned Lily's room, continuing to emit a soft, comforting glow. It became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the entire village a reminder that even the simplest things could hold extraordinary magic, and that within each of them lay the power to illuminate the world with kindness and courage.

https://www.facebook.com/MiaEnglishTeacher

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OUTNUMBERED by Becky Hemsley 2020

"OUTNUMBERED"
by Becky Hemsley 2020

7 pounds 10 ounces -

They all asked how much you weighed

And an IQ of 100

Makes you average so they say

9 out of 10 in Monday’s test

Piano to grade 5

2 minors in your Friday test

And now you’re free to drive

85’s the pass mark

So you’d better try your best

And if you’re scoring 90

Then you’re destined for success

But grade five doesn’t tell them

Of your favourite song to play

And how much you love is not defined

By how much you might weigh

Seven pounds won’t tell them

You were born to paint the stars

And your test scores can’t explain

How you have come to bear your scars

Two is not nostalgia

When you drive yourself back home

And it’s not the memories you make

With friends out on the road

Eighty-five and ninety

Aren’t the songs you sing when sad

And they’re not the feeling in your heart

When you get up to dance

One hundred doesn’t tell them

That your favourite month’s September

So when you feel outnumbered

It’s important you remember

You are strength and you are kindness

You’re creative and you’re brave

You are things that can’t be measured,

Can’t be counted, can’t be weighed

You’re a name and not a number

You weren’t born to be a score

So don’t let them quantify you

When you’re made of so much more

********

Becky Hemsley 2020

Gorgeous artwork by Demelsa Haughton Illustration

I haven't shared this one for a while but it's one that means a lot to me - so I thought it was worth another outing

"Outnumbered" is in my first book https://a.co/d/6JZmaLX

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