THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Saturday 18 May 2024

THE MARRIED COUPLE

"THE MARRIED COUPLE"

(author unknown)

My husband is an Engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature, and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders. Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness.

I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings, I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband, is my complete opposite, his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about love.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce. “Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired, there are no reasons for everything in the world!” I answered. He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. My feeling of disappointment only increased, here was a man who can’t even express his predicament, what else can I hope from him? And finally he asked me:” What can I do to change your mind?" Somebody said it right, it’s hard to change a person’s personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him. Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered : “Here is the question, if you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?” He said :” I will give you your answer tomorrow….” My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes…. My dear, “I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further..” This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading. “When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and you cry in front of the screen, I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to save my eyes to show you the way. You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom. You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes, I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hair. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand… and tell you the colour of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face… Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, and die.. ”

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting… and as I continue on reading… “Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favourite bread and fresh milk… I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread….

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone… That’s life, and love. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.

Love shows up in all forms, even very small and cheeky forms, it has never been a model, it could be the most dull and boring form.. . flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands… and that’s our life…

Love, not words win arguments

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

GRANDPA'S OLD HANDS

"GRANDPA'S OLD HANDS"
(author unknown)

This is good. I'll never look at my hands the same! Grandpa, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands. When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat, I wondered if he was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was OK. He raised his head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking," he said in a clear strong voice. "I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandpa, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to him.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," he asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?" I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making. Grandpa smiled and related this story: "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shrivelled, and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my new born son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day, when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life. But more importantly, it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands, He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ." I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandpa's hands and led him home. When my hands are hurt or sore I think of Grandpa. I know he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face. Let us all, say a prayer for the world and watch God's answer to prayer

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

HARDER by Becky Hemsley

"HARDER"
by Becky Hemsley

The harder we love

Means the harder we grieve

The harder it is

To go on when they leave

The harder to sleep

And the harder to wake

To know they’re not here

With each breath that we take

It’s hard to look forward

And hard to look back

Stuck in the middle,

Imprisoned and trapped

Where the harder the darkness

The harsher the light,

The harsher this world

That keeps spinning with life

But when that world’s feeling

So painful and hard

And you can’t imagine

Escaping the dark

It might help a little

To know it’s because

The harder we grieve

Means the harder we loved

******

Becky Hemsley 2023

Beautiful artwork by Regina Lyubovnaya

'Harder' is from the book 'When I Am Gone'

https://a.co/d/8549bUL

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

Friday 17 May 2024

WITHOUT YOU by Joanne Boyle

"WITHOUT YOU"
by Joanne Boyle

Without You (inspired by a time my daughter was getting surgery) She was OK but this is how I imagined my life without her.

You came back for me

and took me to wherever you went.

Leaving a shell of non existence

in a world I now resent.

My laughter dances with yours

as it echoes in the air.

My vision of a future

without you is no longer there.

I walk with this empty hole

that only you can fill.

I no longer search for memories

when you left my time stood still.

My feet keep walking forward

yet my batteries have ran out.

I am numb from head to toes,

what am I about?

I search for you in my dreams.

To feel alive again,

but I keep walking into the nightmare

too numb to feel the pain.

An existence without motive.

A life without any hope.

Eyes without a vision

Emotionless enough to cope.

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

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

Art Steffi Krenzek

SADNESS COMES by Donna Ashworth

"SADNESS COMES"
by Donna Ashworth

Sadness came to tea last night

as she’s often done before

but I didn’t let her in this time

I stopped her at the door

“I’m off to meet with friends”, I said

“your timing isn’t right

I can’t allow your atmosphere

it’s not the place tonight”

but sadness wouldn’t take the hint

her manners lack finesse

her pace was slow and heavy

yet she kept up nonetheless

and even when I took my place

amongst my laughing friends

she squeezed herself right in-between

her boldness never ends

and I was sure my friends would see

this spectre at the feast

and somehow think me lesser

for inviting such a beast

but no, their warmth was undeterred

as if nothing was new

I think perhaps they know by now

I sometimes come as two

and even sadness seemed to glow

a lighter shade of grey

to know that she’s accepted

seemed to lighten up her day

so let your sad accompany you

don’t think her hard to bear

no need to face her all alone

just pull an extra chair.

********

Donna Ashworth

‘Sadness Comes’ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076134828159

This poem is for #mentalhealthawarenessweek, I hope it will help each of us understand one another’s emotions and complicated hearts better.

This will be in my new collection but if you like this you will enjoy my Sunday times bestseller Wild hope, which is currently available at half-price.

Link is in comments.

The art is by Galya Popova #galyapopova

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 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

DO NOT SLEEP WITH WORRY by Donna Ashworth

"DO NOT SLEEP WITH WORRY"
by Donna Ashworth

Do not sleep with worry

worry is no good in bed

he will interrupt your slumber

spinning dramas like a web

he will plant weeds in your garden

to strangle all you’ve grown

pulling roots up from your flowerbeds

to make room there for his own

he will take your precious memories

and paint them murky grey

he will find your inner child

and send her cowering on her way

do not let him in your bed, love

crack the window, shoo him out

throw his friends out there to join him

fear, perfection and self-doubt

now quickly, close the window

come back and snuggle down

and check that only good thoughts

are allowed to stick around

let hope and joy come by

they are soothing, wise and true

add acceptance to the mix

then let peace wash over you

no do not sleep with worry

worry is no good in bed

you have stress enough in life

to let that monster in your head.

********

From ‘Wild Hope’

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/eDGFsCs

ART BY Bettina Baldassari - BettiPigna

#bettinabaldassariart

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 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

Thursday 16 May 2024

Becky Hemsley by Becky Hemsley 2024

"Becky Hemsley"
by Becky Hemsley 2024

Good morning, or afternoon!

I realised that I haven't done a post introducing myself for a while and there have been some new followers recently.

So this is me, Becky. Not from Nevada as the photo might suggest, but from Leicestershire in the UK. I never like to introduce myself initially with information you'd find on a census form (age, marital status, children, jobs etc) so in the spirit of that, here are five random facts about me:

1. Giraffes are my favourite animal but I also have a soft spot for foxes.

2. Chocolate peanut butter cups are one of my favourite little treats.

3. If I could only listen to one genre of music for the rest of my life, I'd pick musical theatre.

4. I was in the cheerleading society at university.

5. I learnt to play the piano up to grade 4 when I was younger.

But I'm also 40. I've been married for nearly 13 years and we have two beautiful boys and a very old beagle. I used to be a primary school teacher and educational consultant and have written poetry for years. I used to share my writing anonymously on social media/blogs etc until a few years ago when I started to tentatively put my face to the words. In 2022 I was able to commit to it fully.

I always have ideas swimming around in my head, and I take a notebook and pen pretty much everywhere I go so that I'm prepared when inspiration strikes! Sometimes it is in the most unlikely of places or at the most inopportune times. But I guess that's just what life is like - always keeping us on our toes.

Thank you all for being here. I can't explain what it means to me to read your lovely comments and words of support every day. So really, truly, thank you xxx

*****

Becky Hemsley 2024

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

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

Wednesday 15 May 2024

THE MEANING OF LIFE by Becky Hemsley 2024

"THE MEANING OF LIFE"
by Becky Hemsley

I remember when I first started to consider the meaning of life.

When I first became aware that there had to be some purpose to being here. Some purpose beyond becoming and living and ultimately dying.

I remember concerning myself so much with how I’d forge ahead and what I’d leave behind. As if the meaning of life was the future I was yet to experience and the past I was yet to leave in my wake.

As if the meaning of my life was something someone would summarise in a newspaper article or on a memorial stone or in an obituary.

But somewhere in the midst of it all, I forgot about the meaning of life and I just started living. I learnt what it was to meet people who lifted me up, challenged me, stuck by me, celebrated me.

I learnt what it was to have adventures: the everyday kind and the once-in-a-lifetime kind.

I learnt what it was to feel like my heart could break and then how it could feel full to the point it might burst.

I learnt what it was to live the lows and ride the highs. To have carefree days and worrisome nights. I learnt what it was to have people in my corner, and how wonderful it felt to know that I was the person in theirs.

Yes, I remember when I first started to consider the meaning of life. And for the longest while it had me stumped.

But I think I’ve figured it out.

For myself at least.

Yes, I think that - when it really comes down to it -

the meaning of life is

simply,

fundamentally,

ultimately,

to give life meaning.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2024

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Gorgeous artwork by Anna Fila (@afankimalowanki on Instagram)

‘The Meaning of Life’ is a newer poem so it isn’t in any collections yet

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