THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Sunday 5 May 2024

FINDING MAGIC IN HIS POT by Becky Hemsley

"FINDING MAGIC IN HIS POT"
by Becky Hemsley

He carries specks of starlight

In a little silver pot

And they tell him that he’s strange

Because he has something they’ve not

They never think to ask him

What it is he keeps within

For they’d rather speak in whispers

That he doesn’t quite fit in

They think that being different

Is a lonely, scary shame -

They don’t realise that our magic

Lies in how we’re not the same

Yet when it’s dark, they search

For all the light his starlight casts

But they don’t know it’s his doing

‘Cause they never cared to ask

And even if they asked him

They’d be likely to misjudge

And instead of silver starlight

They’d see only specks of dust

See they’ve already decided

That he isn’t worth a lot

And yet, if only they looked closer

They’d find magic in his pot

********

Becky Hemsley 2021

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Artwork by the fabulous Siski Kalla from the children's book of this poem https://a.co/d/duS8SQw

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:-

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More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

A TREAT FOR MY MOTHER

"A TREAT FOR MY MOTHER"
(author unknown)

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who had been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my 3 children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

“What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

“I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.”

She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an Angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,” she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cosy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favour,” I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation — nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.

“How was your dinner date?” Asked my wife when I got home.

“Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place where mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless I paid for two plates — one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me.”

“I love you, son.”

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I love you,” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

THE FLAME by Becky Hemsley

"THE FLAME"
by Becky Hemsley

For the mothers who have lost a child: this is for you on International Bereaved Mother’s Day.

xxx

There’s an order that life is supposed to follow.

An order of breaths we are supposed to take,

as if we are passing a torch from one generation to the next.

And our torch is supposed to go out before our child’s flame is extinguished.

We are supposed to watch them take their first breath. But not their last.

We are supposed to hear the thud-thud of their heart when it starts beating. But never the silence when it stops.

That heart that we once carried inside of us. That breath that we gave them. That life that we kept safe, protected.

So when the order of life is disrupted,

when their torch goes out before yours,

it is as if you too have been robbed of your breath

and as if your heart has stopped beating as well.

There is nothing that can make it less painful.

You would blow out your flame if it meant theirs could burn.

But you can’t. Even though that’s how it should be.

So all you can do is carry them inside you -

like you did once before. Except now they have to stay in your heart forever.

And though it hurts, know that they are safe there.

They are protected.

Because a mother’s love is unending.

Because it burns forever with every breath you take and with every beat your heart makes.

Because a mother’s love is a flame

that can

never

be extinguished. ********

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Beautiful artwork by Akira Kusaka

This is on my website as a free download (it’s called The Flame).

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

THE WORDS OF AUDREY HEPBURN by Audrey Hepburn

"THE WORDS OF AUDREY HEPBURN"
by Audrey Hepburn

When they asked her to reveal her beauty secrets, Audrey Hepburn wrote this beautiful text that was later read at her funeral.

′′To have attractive lips, speak kind words.

To have a loving look, look for the good side of people.

To look skinny, share your food with the hungry.

To have beautiful hair, let a child cross it with his own fingers once a day.

To have a beautiful poise, walk knowing you're never alone, because those who love and loved you accompany you.

People, even more than objects, need to be fixed, spoiled, awakened, wanted and saved: never give up on anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a hand, you'll find them at the end of both your arms.

When you become old, you will discover that you have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, in her face or in her way of fixing her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the door open to her heart, the source of her love.

The beauty of a woman doesn't lie in her makeup, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the tenderness that gives love, the passion that it expresses.

The beauty of a woman grows over the years ′′

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

Saturday 4 May 2024

STAY WITH ME PAPPA by Joanne Boyle

"STAY WITH ME PAPPA"
by Joanne Boyle

I remember the Man

that would sit me on his knee.

The one that sang me nursery rhymes,

the one I called Daddy.

I remember those walks to school,

and how I'd hold your hand.

I'd skip and sometimes hop,

our days were never planned.

Then when I got a boyfriend,

and he broke my heart in two.

You held me as I cried,

knowing he had broke you too.

You then took me to university,

phoned me every day.

Sometimes I didn't answer,

l was led astray.

Then I met my soul mate.

You walked me down the Isle.

You gave me the perfect wedding,

you done it all in style.

The Grandchildren came along,

loved you as much as I.

You gave us many memories,

for those in which I cry.

I try to help you remember,

to stop you going away.

I keep trying to light those memories,

but they are melting every day.

A Daughter and Her Father,

a story forever to be told.

But only one remembers now,

since Dementia has took hold.

******

Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

(picture by unknown)

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

I LOOK FOR YOU IN MY DREAMS by Joanne Boyle

"I LOOK FOR YOU IN MY DREAMS"
by Joanne Boyle

I see you behind my eyes.

You are still sitting there,

at the kitchen table,

on the same old chair.

I hear you say hello,

as I walk through your door.

The one that is now locked,

that I can't enter any more.

I smell that familiar odour,

the one that wore your name.

The one living on a piece of cloth

that isn't quite the same.

I dial your old phone number

just to hear it ring.

Why don't you ever answer?

Why aren't you ever in?

I read the morning paper,

to see if the crosswords hold clues,

but there's never any to find,

amongst the same old news.

I look for you in my dreams,

the ones we used to share.

It doesn't matter where I find you,

as long as we meet there.

******

Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

MY SOUL IS AGELESS

"MY SOUL IS AGELESS"
(author unknown"

Sometimes I wake up and I'm five.

I still want to believe in magic and pixie dust...

Sometimes I wake up and I'm 15.

I have strength and I feel I can change the world...

Sometimes I wake up and I'm 30.

I step on the earth, but I know I can fly...

Sometimes I wake up and I'm 60.

I have the experience and I want to share.

Offer the tranquillity and wisdom of time,

that doesn't stop, that heals, that heals...

Sometimes I wake up and I don't know how old I am and

nor how many passed.,,

And it's in the soul, full of love and memories

that I feel all ages,

showing me a rich and precious life.

And that's where I find my great treasure,

a beautiful patchwork quilt,

unique, and original and that bears my signature.

And on it is written:

*******

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html

CHASING TOMORROW by Becky Hemsley

"CHASING TOMORROW"
by Becky Hemsley

Today I woke and found myself

With less than yesterday

My life was missing things

I had assumed were here to stay

Things that had seemed little

‘Til they left a giant space,

Left an empty silence

And a longing in their place

And I began to understand

That when push came to shove

I longed for what I’d had

When I’d thought that was not enough

I’d always looked ahead

Was always chasing more and more

Growing so complacent

Of the things I once wished for

Running to tomorrow,

To the weekend, to next year

Forgetting I was lucky

For the things already here

And all this made me realise

That my life can’t buy more time

So maybe I should spend my time

Loving this life of mine

And maybe I’ll be grateful

For the little things I’ve got

That seem inconsequential

But which mean an awful lot

So, tonight I’ll thank the stars

Instead of asking them for more

And I will hope to wake with all

The things I’ve thanked them for

‘Cause now I see that my todays

Are filled with time I’ve borrowed

And I shouldn’t sit around and waste them

Chasing my tomorrows

*****

Becky Hemsley 2024

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Gorgeous artwork by Kristina von Wiesen Art

'Chasing Tomorrow' is from my most recent collection: https://a.co/d/c2Frz8s

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html