THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Wednesday 28 February 2024

LOOK AROUND by Becky Hemsley

"LOOK AROUND"
by Becky Hemsley

People in myths pay no mind to the prince

Who was changed from a frog with just kisses

And none of them balk at the trees that can talk

And don’t doubt that the stars can grant wishes

They think very little of speaking to mirrors

That answer them back from the wall

They sing with the dryads and drink with the giants

Who tower one hundred feet tall

They do not imagine the fairies and dragons

‘Cause those things are already there

With captured princesses whose extra-long tresses

Mean people can climb up their hair

Yes, all of these creatures with fairy-tale features

Don’t notice the magic they make

So they overlook half of what’s in their book

‘Cause it’s part of the plot every day

And maybe we too are so blind to our view

‘Cause it’s one that we know very well

And so we don’t stop and don’t listen to what

Kinds of stories our world has to tell

The stories of trees as they’re shedding their leaves

Just to welcome them back come the spring

And the way we all stay – how we don’t float away

From this great ball of rock as it spins

The stories of skies full of water and fires

With the power to flood and ignite

The mountains, volcanoes, the rare double rainbows

The phases of moon every night

And once long ago, we would never have known

That we’d one day explain it somehow

We’d have marvelled at more, we’d have stared with such awe

And perhaps we should do the same now

Because without seeing and knowing, believing,

We’d say it’s a tale in a book

Yet there’s wonder abound in the world – all around

We just keep forgetting to look

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

Artwork by @Paula Belle Flores

'Look Around' is from 'Letters from Life' https://a.co/d/1R5VZfo

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GROWING MEANS CHANGING by Becky Hemsley

"GROWING MEANS CHANGING"
by Becky Hemsley 2023

Sometimes people tell us

“you’ve changed”.

And I believe the best response to that is

“I hope so.”

Because we are supposed to learn and experience things in life, and they

are supposed to help us grow. And growing means changing.

No-one tells a tree ‘you’ve changed’

when its leaves start turning orange or its blossoms start to grow.

They take photographs of it.

They write poetry about it.

They paint pictures of it.

They celebrate its growth, and they document its changes.

Yes, when a tree changes, people do not question it.

They see its beauty

and they turn it into art.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

Stunning artwork by Olga Cuttell at Oladesign

This one is from 'Letters from Life': https://a.co/d/1p7OWcx

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Tuesday 27 February 2024

THE STORY OF THE TWO APPLES

"THE STORY OF THE TWO APPLES"
(author unknown)

Today in one of our classes I introduced the children to two apples (the children didn't know this, but before the class I had repeatedly dropped one of the apples on the floor, you couldn't tell, both apples looked perfect). We talked about the apples and the children described how both apples looked the same; both were red, were of similar size and looked juicy enough to eat.

I picked up the apple I'd dropped on the floor and started to tell the children how I disliked this apple, that I thought it was disgusting, it was a horrible colour and the stem was just too short. I told them that because I didn't like it, I didn't want them to like it either, so they should call it names too.

Some children looked at me like I was insane, but we passed the apple around the circle calling it names, 'you're a smelly apple', 'I don't even know why you exist', 'you've probably got worms inside you' etc.

We really pulled this poor apple apart. I actually started to feel sorry for the little guy.

We then passed another apple around and started to say kind words to it, 'You're a lovely apple', 'Your skin is beautiful', 'What a beautiful colour you are' etc.

I then held up both apples, and again, we talked about the similarities and differences, there was no change, both apples still looked the same.

I then cut the apples open. The apple we'd been kind to was clear, fresh and juicy inside.

The apple we'd said unkind words to was bruised and all mushy inside.

I think there was a lightbulb moment for the children immediately. They really got it, what we saw inside that apple, the bruises, the mush and the broken bits is what is happening inside every one of us when someone mistreats us with their words or actions.

When people are bullied, especially children, they feel horrible inside and sometimes don't show or tell others how they are feeling. If we hadn't have cut that apple open, we would never have known how much pain we had caused it.

I shared my own experience of suffering someone's unkind words last week. On the outside I looked OK, I was still smiling. But, on the inside someone had caused me a lot of pain with their words and I was hurting.

Unlike an apple, we have the ability to stop this from happening. We can teach children that it's not ok to say unkind things to each other and discuss how it makes others feel. We can teach our children to stand up for each other and to stop any form of bullying, just as one little girl did today when she refused to say unkind words to the apple.

More and more hurt and damage happens inside if nobody does anything to stop the bullying. Let's create a generation of kind, caring children.

The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.”

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Monday 26 February 2024

I PROMISE by Tahlia Hunter

"I PROMISE"
by Tahlia Hunter

I promise that you can build a beautiful life for yourself

Even if your life has fallen apart

Even if things surrounding you

Have come crashing down

And even if the foundations of your life have crumbled and fallen away

I promise that you can build a beautiful life for yourself

Even if people have walked out of your life

Or have chosen to reject you

Leaving you feeling abandoned, isolated and alone

I promise that you can build a beautiful life for yourself

Even if your greatest hopes and dreams have been dashed

And shattered to pieces

And the future seems bleak and uncertain

I promise that you can build a beautiful life for yourself

Even if your life as you know it

Has fallen away

Because your ability to create

Is far more powerful

Than life’s ability to destroy you

Your ability to regrow and regenerate

Is far greater

Than life’s ability to damage you

And your capacity to rebuild

Is far stronger

Than life’s capacity to break you

And you can take the rubble and ruins

Of what remains in your life

And use it to build a tower

That is even bigger and more beautiful than before.

And I promise that you can build a beautiful life for yourself

As while things will come tumbling down in your life

Life can never keep you knocked down

As you can always rebuild

And that is your greatest power.

*****

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

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Artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein

WHEN TO LET GO by Becky Hemsley

"WHEN TO LET GO"

by Becky Hemsley

There will be some people in life who just won’t be able to love you the way you need them to.

The way you love them.

There will be some people in life who won’t treat you the way you deserve to be treated.

The way you treat them.

And there will people in life who just can’t give you what you want.

Sometimes we cling on to these people for far longer than we should. Like a tree clinging desperately to its leaves, trying not to let them fall.

But they will fall.

Eventually.

And the tree shouldn’t blame itself.

Because the loss - whilst great - is necessary. The tree needs to lose its leaves so it can rediscover its roots and ready itself for a fresh start.

You can’t keep painting autumn leaves green and expecting them to stay.

Deep down they are always destined to fall.

The key is knowing when to let go.

Becky Hemsley 2023

Artwork by Hayk Shalunts

This poem is from my most recent collection 'Letters from Life' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL9MZC1...

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EMBERS AND KEYS by Becky Hemsley

"EMBERS AND KEYS"
by Becky Hemsley

When I am older

I might not remember

I might get confused

And I might lose my temper

And there may be times

When I don’t know your name

Because it’s been trapped,

Locked away in my brain

And though it will hurt

To think I could forget you

Offer me smiles,

Hold my hand if I’ll let you

And talk of adventures

We had long ago

Show me the photos

Of people I know

Play music we’ve danced to

And songs we have sung

Read me the books I read

When I was young

‘Cause your voice and your words

Might just be the key

That opens the door -

That unlocks it for me

And maybe the music

Will spark tiny embers

Of memories dormant

And I will remember

Your name and your face

And the words to our song

The times and the places

To which I’ve belonged

And it might last moments

Or minutes or more

As the fire sheds light

Through the crack in the door

But when the door closes

And gone are the flames

When you are once more

A stranger again

Just know you’ll have stirred something

Deep down inside

Something familiar

That I recognise

Something that’s real

That’s not stored in my head

But right at the core

Of my heart space instead

Something that’s stirred

By your smiles and your stories

The touch of your hand

And the songs you sing for me

And though I’ll have no words to tell you

Just trust

That deep down inside

I’ll remember

I’m loved

*******

Becky Hemsley 2022

Beautiful artwork by lucyclaireillustration

Sending so much love, peace and compassion to anyone dealing with Alzheimers or dementia - either directly themselves or whilst caring for a loved one. Be kind to yourself.

This poem is called "Embers and Keys" and is in the book 'Letters from Life' https://a.co/d/17LrMHG

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DON'T GIVE UP by Joanne Boyle

"DON'T GIVE UP" by Joanne Boyle

Don't give up on the morning sun,

or forget that it is there.

Don't give up on the blowing wind,

or when the raindrops wet your hair.

Don't give up the moment,

because of something that you feel.

Don't give up the laughter,

those times were truly real.

Don't give up the life.

The one you are blessed to live.

Don't give up on love,

you still have lots to give.

Don't give up the Family,

let them be your crutch.

Don't give up on hope,

we all love you very much.

Don't give up the daylight,

let it light your way.

Don't give up on anything,

tomorrow is another day.

******

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

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art by Steffi Krenzek