THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Friday 10 May 2024

MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT YOU by Becky Hemsley 2024

"MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT YOU"
by Becky Hemsley 2024

Mother’s Day without your mum

is to be painfully reminded of the scar across your soul.

The scar that sits where a part of you is missing.

Because when she left, something within you broke and left too.

You were part of her and she was part of you.

But this means that whilst a piece of you left with her,

precious pieces of her also stayed behind with you.

And if you look for her, you will see her. Everywhere.

In the way your nose crinkles when you smile.

In the sound of your voice when you laugh.

In the way you treasure those you love.

In the way you share your passions.

In your kindness.

So, though your mother may not walk beside you on this Earth right now, know that she is still here.

She lives on. In you.

Because love lives on.

You are still part of her and she is still part of you.

She is still your mother and you are still her child.

And that scar is a reminder of what it is to love and be loved. It is a reminder that the legacy of great love is great grief.

Yet grief is hard.

So when it feels almost impossibly painful,

you must love yourself harder still.

You must give yourself great love.

Just the way your mother

always did.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2024

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Beautiful artwork by Grace J. Kim

Sending my love to anyone missing their mum in the lead up to Mother's Day

#mothersday

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DAYS OUT WITH THE SUN by Joanne Boyle

"DAYS OUT WITH THE SUN"
by Joanne Boyle

Today I wore my best hat.

I had a meeting with the sun.

I wanted to discuss my past,

when days were filled with fun.

We arranged to meet at morning,

so we would have all day.

I didn't want a time limit

on what i had to say.

I wanted to tell him about my childhood

and summer breaks from school.

About playing outside with others

and splashing in a pool.

I wanted to remember my siblings

and days out with our Nan.

She would get us fishing nets

and make us a paper fan.

Trips out to the beach .

Picnics in the park.

Mam shouting out the window

to come in before it's dark.

I thought if I tell the sun if this

then it will remember too

and maybe he will come out more

Just like it used to do.

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

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YOU ARE MY LIFE by Mehendi Guha Roy

"YOU ARE MY LIFE"

by Mehendi Guha Roy

“Can I ask you something?”, I was over the phone with my husband.

“Sure. Go for it.”, I somehow knew that at that moment he kept everything at halt just to hear me out that time.

“Okay, so if I ask you to define what I mean to you in one word, what would your answer be?”, I asked as he waited on the other side of the line.

“Life.”, the impromptu tone of him, was just the qualifying margin.

“You are my life.”, he added

“Explain.”, I was curious to know more

“What to explain? I already said, you are my life. How can I explain that?”, he thought he was suppose to say something else and he messed it up.

“Easy, love. I just want to know, why do you feel like that?”, I was trying my best to calm him down.

“Like, it happened a long back that after every small or big fight we had, I deliberately tried my egoistic side to win the battle, but somehow I found it really hard to wait for when you would ping me up. I hate the thought of losing you. I just wanted to hold you near to me. I would go through our chat history, snaps, your voice notes, and wonder why did I feel that ache in my heart, then I remembered because it didn’t had you at that time in it. I was all in my senses as I lost my battle bit by bit everyday, as I happily grew each day with you. That’s how I know you are my life. I don’t know how to survive seconds without you, and trust me I would give up everything to never have that feeling. I Love You Baby. Stay for the lifetime.”, saying this he gave a peck on the screen as if he could feel her forehead in between his lips.

********

Mehendi Guha Roy

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Thursday 9 May 2024

THE BLIND BABY ZEBRA & THE CHEETAH FAMILY

"THE BLIND BABY ZEBRA & THE CHEETAH FAMILY" (author unknown)

There was a mother zebra that had a blind child. She was very sad all the time, because her child couldn't see the world for himself. It broke her heart, and made her cry.

One day, the mother zebra accompanied her blind foal to the river to drink water. As they walked through the forest, they came across a mother cheetah and her three cubs sitting under a tree. The mother cheetah suddenly burst into a shout of laughter. She laughed so uproariously that her cubs began to laugh too. They didn't stop, their laughter sounded horrible and mocking.

At once, it occurred to the mother zebra that the cheetah and her cubs were teasing and making fun of her blind child. She felt hurt and angry, and finally wept in silence as they walked away.

The following day, the same thing happened, and it kept on happening. Each time the zebra and her blind foal passed by, the mother cheetah and her cubs roared with scornful laughter. They always seemed to be whispering mean and hurtful things, and then laughing about it.

Upon returning home one day, the mother zebra became depressed, and felt unable to cope. She then said to her foal,

"The cheetah and her cubs are evil and wicked. They will stop at nothing to humiliate you. I will no longer take you to the river, but I will always bring you water to drink. No one in going to insult you if you're hiding in the house."

After that day, the mother zebra would always go to the river all alone. And after drinking, she would head home with some water for her foul. But in spite of that, the cheetahs didn't stop laughing and laughing whenever she passed by. Their annoying laughter soon got her so angry and impatient that she decided to fight back.

Burning with rage, she stormed at them and yelled,

"You wicked cheetahs! I won't take this anymore! I have stopped bringing my blind child to the river because of your heartless behaviours! Stop laughing at us, or you'll have me to deal with!"

Upon hearing that, the mother cheetah gave the mother zebra a confused look. She didn't seem to understand what she said. After a long pause, she finally spoke,

"Wait a minute... I guess you're misunderstanding things, mama zebra. The truth is, we have never made mockery of you or your blind child. It's just your assumption. Let me tell you something; you have only one blind child, but I've got three blind children, so there's no point mocking you. Now, about our laughter... we always laugh so loud because we are happy, and I tell them jokes all the time. So my dear, I've got much more problems to even notice yours."

Many times in life, we become consumed with anger and sadness because we assume things that are not entirely true. Sometimes... we see things and we misunderstand. Taking things personally causes us much pain and suffering. And the main reason why we take things personally is because we make assumptions. We often make the assumption that someone else’s action is about us. However, if we pause a moment and look hard into things, we'd realise that most times, people are too busy with themselves that they rarely pay attention to us, let alone criticize us. Everyone's got their own vulnerabilities and challenges. So, instead of making assumptions, we should learn to ask questions. Most importantly, we should dream big and never be afraid of chasing our dreams, no matter what our assumptions in life are."

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THE RABBIT, A BEER & THE HAM & CHEESE TOASTIE

"THE RABBIT, A BEER & THE HAM & CHEESE TOASTIE"
(author unknown)

A rabbit walks into a pub and says to the barman,

'Can I have a pint of beer, and a Ham and Cheese Toastie?'

The barman is amazed, but gives the rabbit a pint of beer and a ham and cheese toastie.

The rabbit drinks the beer and eats the toastie. He then leaves.

The following night the rabbit returns and again asks for a pint of beer, and a Ham and Cheese Toastie.

The barman, now intrigued by the rabbit and the extra drinkers in the pub, (because word gets round), gives the rabbit the pint and the Toastie. The rabbit consumes them and leaves.

The next night, the pub is packed.

In walks the rabbit and says, 'A pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, please barman.'

The crowd is hushed as the barman gives the rabbit his pint and toastie, and then burst into applause as the rabbit wolfs them down.

The next night there is standing room only in the pub.

Coaches have been laid on for the crowds of patrons attending.

The barman is making more money in one week than he did all last year

In walks the rabbit and says, 'A pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, please barman.'

The barman says, 'I'm sorry rabbit, old mate, old mucker, but we are right out of them Ham and Cheese Toasties.'

The rabbit looks aghast.

The crowd has quietened to almost a whisper, when the barman clears his throat nervously and says,

'We do have a very nice Cheese and Onion Toastie.

The rabbit looks him in the eye and says, 'Are you sure I will like it.'

The crowd's bated breath is ear shatteringly silent.

The barman, with a roguish smile says, 'Do you think that I would let down one of my best friends. I know you'll love it.'

'Ok,' says the rabbit, 'I'll have a pint of beer and a Cheese and Onion Toastie.'

The pub erupts with glee as the rabbit quaffs the beer and guzzles the toastie.

He then waves to the crowd and leaves....

NEVER TO RETURN!!!!!!

One year later, in the now impoverished public house, the barman, (who has only served 4 drinks tonight, 3 of which were his), calls time.

When he is cleaning down the now empty bar, he sees a small white form, floating above the bar.

The barman says, 'Who are you?

To which he is answered,

'I am the ghost of the rabbit that used to frequent your public house.'

The barman says, 'I remember you. You made me famous.

You would come in every night and have a pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie. Masses came to see you and this place was famous.'

The rabbit says, 'Yes I know.'

The barman said, 'I remember, on your last night we didn't have any Ham and Cheese Toasties. You had a Cheese and Onion one instead.'

The rabbit said, 'Yes, you promised me that I would love it.'

The barman said, 'You never came back, what happened?'

'I DIED', said the rabbit.

'NO!' said the barman. 'What from?'

After a short pause, the rabbit said ...

'Mixin-me-toasties....

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CRUMBS by Becky Hemsley

"CRUMBS"
by Becky Hemsley

Promise me something…

Promise me that you’ll never let anyone deprive you of the very basics of humanity.

Never let them leave you so hungry that you will accept just

scraps of love

crumbs of respect

and tiny morsels of kindness

People who are starving will eat anything. But that doesn’t mean they should have to.

You are deserving of so much more.

A banquet of love

a whole feast of respect

and a full spread of kindness

So promise me you won’t go hungry. And if anyone tries to deprive you, remember this:

We should all have enough self-love, self-respect and self-kindness to share. So if anyone tries to starve you…

It’s because they are hungry themselves.

*********

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Artwork by Henrietta Harris Art

'Crumbs' is from 'Letters from Life': https://a.co/d/1uOkn99

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THE DAUGHTER LINE by Arlene Bailey

"THE DAUGHTER LINE"

by Arlene Bailey 2020

I am the daughter

of a daughter.

Who is the daughter

of a daughter.

Who is also the daughter

of a daughter.

Some of us are mothers

but all of us are daughters,

all birthed through lines

that weave back to

that First Mother.

All connected from

the very beginning.

All connected in the now.

Mothers,

Daughters,

Grandmothers,

Great Grandmothers,

Great Great Grandmothers.

All daughters born from

One. Original. Egg.

from

One. Original. Woman.

So why the separation?

Why the animosity toward each other?

Why the arguing and fighting,

back-stabbing and lack of support?

The next time you see another woman,

look in her eyes and see the

Ancestral Lines – the lines of women –

that lead back to you.

Where are we going Mother?

And how will we get there Sister?

By staying connected Daughter

and allowing for difference.

For we are each one,

after all,

all Daughters

of Daughters

of our

One Mother.

********

Author Arlene Bailey

The Daughter Line (2020)

[Image: La Femme (1899) by Italian painter Giacomo Grosso (1860-1938).]

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 Curious Friendship of Oliver the Owl and Jasper the Squirrel by John A Elliott 2024

"The Curious Friendship of Oliver the Owl and Jasper the Squirrel"

by John A Elliott 2024

In the heart of Whispering Woods, where ancient oaks stood tall and ferns carpeted the forest floor, lived two creatures with vastly different perspectives: Oliver the Owl and Jasper the Squirrel.

Oliver was a wise old owl, his feathers a mosaic of earthy browns and greys. His days were spent perched high in the branches, observing life below. He believed that wisdom came from stillness—the quiet contemplation of moonlit nights and rustling leaves.

Jasper, on the other hand, was a bundle of energy. His bushy tail twitched with excitement, and his fur was a vibrant mix of russet and gold. He darted through the underbrush, collecting acorns and chasing sunbeams. For Jasper, wisdom lay in action, the thrill of discovery and the joy of play.

One crisp autumn morning, as the leaves turned fiery red, Oliver spotted Jasper scurrying along the forest floor. “Ah, young squirrel,” Oliver hooted, “why rush so? Sit with me, and let us unravel the mysteries of the world.”

Jasper halted, his eyes wide. “Mysteries? Like what?”

Oliver adjusted his spectacles (yes, owls wear invisible spectacles) and began. “Why do leaves change colour? What secrets lie hidden in the moon’s silver glow? And why does the wind whisper to the trees?”

Jasper scratched his head. “Well, I reckon leaves change colour 'cause they’re tired of being green. The moon? It’s a celestial nightlight for nocturnal creatures. And the wind? It’s gossiping about which squirrel hid the juiciest acorns.”

Oliver blinked. “Jasper, my dear friend, your answers are… unconventional.”

“But they make sense!” Jasper insisted. “Besides, who wants to sit around all day? Life’s too short for stillness.”

Oliver sighed. “Perhaps,” he said, “but wisdom isn’t just about knowing facts. It’s about understanding the rhythm of existence, the ebb and flow of seasons, the dance of constellations, and the flutter of a butterfly’s wings.”

Jasper tilted his head. “And what good is wisdom if you can’t catch a falling leaf or balance on a spider’s thread?”

Oliver chuckled. “True, my young friend. Let us strike a bargain. You teach me the art of play, and I’ll share the secrets of the stars.”

And so, Oliver and Jasper became an odd pair. They chased fireflies through moon-dappled glades, and Oliver taught Jasper constellations from the night sky, "the Hunter", "the Bear", and the elusive "Acorn Cluster."

One chilly night, as frost painted the grass silver, Jasper nestled beside Oliver. “Tell me,” he whispered, “why do owls hoot?”

Oliver gazed at the moon. “We hoot to connect, to say, ‘I’m here.’ It’s our way of bridging the vastness of the forest.”

“And squirrels?” Jasper asked.

“You chatter,” Oliver replied. “To say, ‘I’m alive!’ To share the thrill of acorn hunts and sunrises.”

And so, in their own way, Oliver and Jasper found wisdom. They revelled in the magic of both stillness and motion, the rustle of leaves and the twinkle of stars.

As seasons turned, they sat together on a mossy branch, Jasper’s tail entwined with Oliver’s feathers. And when the first snowflakes fell, they hooted and chattered, celebrating the beauty of friendship, the most profound mystery of all.

And so, dear reader, if you ever wander into Whispering Woods, listen carefully. You might hear the echo of hoots and chatters, a reminder that wisdom comes not only from what we know but from the bonds we forge along the way.

And that, my friend, is the tale of Oliver the Owl and Jasper the Squirrel, a lesson in finding harmony between stillness and play.

Image by Dall-E (AI)

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