THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Thursday 25 January 2024

An Affirmation for a Misfit by Tahlia Hunter

"An Affirmation for a Misfit" by Tahlia Hunter

Though I may feel like a misfit,

in truth, we are all misfits,

for no two people

who walk the Earth

see life

in an identical way.

Though I may feel like an outsider

and struggle to fit in with others,

this does not make me inferior,

for it is simply because

I am surrounded by those

who see the world

so vastly differently from me

that they fail to understand or appreciate me

and I am simply in need

of finding the spaces and places where I belong,

whether that be among people, animals or nature.

When I find myself feeling low,

or questioning my existence,

I may go out into nature

and look at all of the plants, animals and trees

and remind myself

that just as each of them is essential to life,

Life itself

would be incomplete without me

And like all whom have walked the Earth,

I am no lesser or greater than another

and my life is no less precious than another’s.

And while my purpose here

may not always be understood easily by others

it is no less magnificent than another’s.

And in feeling misunderstood,

I am connected

to all who have come before me

who have felt similarly isolated and rejected

yet, nevertheless, found their way

And I too, shall find my way,

for I am not the first

to walk this Earth

and feel like an outsider,

nor will I be the last.

But I may live my life in such a way

that those who come after me,

will feel less lonely and isolated,

for I have left it

a more loving and accepting place for all.

And on the days that I feel discouraged,

I will remind myself of this truth:

“I may never be accepted by others,

but I may always accept myself,

and the one that created life accepts me.

And that is the only acceptance

that I will ever need.”

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

Artwork by Katarína Vavrová Artist

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:-

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

Still I Rise BY MAYA ANGELOU

"Still I Rise" BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise.

https://bit.ly/48MAjdt

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

I AM GRATEFUL by Joanne Boyle

"I AM GRATEFUL"
by Joanne Boyle

I am grateful for every good morning,

for every smile I see.

I am grateful for the home I have,

I am grateful I am me.

I am grateful that I am thankful,

for everything around.

I am grateful I can see,

and hear every sound.

I am grateful for such kindness,

in any shape or form.

I am grateful for the sunshine,

and surviving every storm.

I am grateful that I care nothing,

for power or for wealth.

I am grateful I care for happiness,

and for that of health.

I am grateful I'm not competitive,

I don't ever want to win.

I am grateful that I'm honest

to lie would be a sin.

I am grateful for my family,

for every message I receive.

I am grateful for my passion,

and that I will not deceive.

I am grateful for another day,

and if I make it to the night,

I will be grateful for that too,

and for everything in sight.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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

Art by Steffi Krenzek

THANK YOU SUNSHINE by Joanne Boyle

"THANK YOU SUNSHINE"
by Joanne Boyle

Speak to me sunshine.

Light up my day.

Feed me your energy,

and I'll be on my way.

Give me the hope,

for brighter things.

Give me strength

for whatever it brings.

Touch my heart,

with your sweet smell.

Share your secret,

come on, please tell.

Warm my day,

with your sweet glow.

Tell me It's all OK,

I need to know.

Thank you Sunshine,

I heard you say,

I am so loved,

now I'm on my way.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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

Art by Steffi Krenzek

Wednesday 24 January 2024

THE POWER OF WORDS

"THE POWER OF WORDS"
(author unknown"

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

Moral: There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. So be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words… it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way.

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

I CAN by Becky Hemsley 2023

"I CAN"
by Becky Hemsley 2023

I know you will have some days when grief is in charge. When the

strength of your loss – of your longing, of your missing me – outweighs

the strength of your motivation.

And that’s ok.

Rest. Find comfort in the grief itself. Wrap it around you like a blanket,

knowing that it is really just love with a heavy heart that comforts you.

You can give in sometimes. But don’t give up.

You can befriend your grief. You can cry to it, scream to it.

But do not bow to it.

And if you find it overpowering you,

if you find it shouting “you cannot do this,”

look for me.

Because I will send you the strength to lift your heavy heart just enough

to look that grief in the eye,

grab it by the collar

and say – even if it’s only in a whisper at first –

“Yes, I Can.”

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

Artwork by rawpixel.com

'I Can' is from the book 'When I am Gone' https://amzn.eu/d/hZe48go

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

BYE BYE MAMMA by Joanne Boyle

"BYE BYE MAMMA"
by Joanne Boyle

Before you go Mamma,

and leave this world behind,

take our memories with you,

there are lots to find.

Before you go Mamma,

let me hold you once more,

So you don't forget,

when you go through heavens door.

Before you go Mamma,

smell the perfume I wear.

Take my Scent with you,

so you'll know I am there.

Before you go Mamma,

let me put a tissue in your pocket,

to remind you of my tears,

and the hair in your locket

Before you go Mamma,

look into my eyes,

so you remember the colour,

that has no disguise.

Before you go Mamma,

will you promise me this?

To return each night,

to bring me a kiss.

Before you go Mamma,

let me wrap you in my love.

Keep it with you always,

as you move to the world above.

Bye Bye Mamma,

until we meet once again.

Now go toward the light,

and be free from pain.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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

Art by Steffi Krenzek

IN MY SHOES by Becky Hemsley 2022

"IN MY SHOES"
by Becky Hemsley 2022

“If I were in your shoes,” you say

“I wouldn’t feel a thing

Because those shoes look comfortable

And easy to walk in”

“If I were in your shoes,” you say

“I wouldn’t walk as far

I’d work smarter not harder

And I’d still be where you are”

“If I were in your shoes,” you say

“Then I would not complain

We don’t get anywhere in life

Without a little pain”

But you’re not in my shoes

‘Cause if you were you’d realise

It’s not about the shoes as much

As how they feel inside

You see, for years I did not have

Such easy, comfy shoes

And working hard to just get by

Was all that I could do

So go ahead, climb mountains

With nothing on your feet

Run along through mud

Without a thing to keep you clean

Wade across the river

With no boots to keep you dry

Bare your soles and let them burn

As you run through the fire

And when your toes are bleeding,

When your heels are black and blue

When your soles are weary,

Red and raw and swollen too

Yes, when your feet are blistered

And they’re caked in blood and dirt

Then walk a mile in my shoes

And tell me they don’t hurt

******

Becky Hemsley 2022

Image from rawpixel.com

'In My Shoes' is from What the Wild Replied

https://a.co/d/2Ssqxeq

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