THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Saturday 25 May 2024

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by Pam Ayers

"FIFTY SHADES OF GREY"

by Pam Ayers

The missus bought a Paperback

down Shepton, Saturday,

I had a look inside her bag;

T'was "fifty shades of grey".

Well, I just left her to it,

At ten, I went to bed.

An hour later, she appeared;

The sight filled me with dread.

In her left, she held a rope;

And in her right, a whip!

She threw them down upon the floor,

And then began to strip.

Well, fifty years or so ago,

I might have had a peek;

But Mabel hasn't weathered well;

She's eighty-four next week!!

Watching Mabel bump and grind;

could not have been much grimmer.

Things then went from bad to worse;

She toppled off her Zimmer!

She struggled back upon her feet;

A couple minutes later,

she put her teeth back in and said

I must dominate!

Now, if you knew our Mabel,

You'd see just why I spluttered,

I'd spent two months in traction

For the last complaint I'd uttered.

She stood there nude and naked

Bent forward just a bit

I went to hold her, sensual-like

and stood on her left tit!

Mabel screamed, her teeth shot out;

My god, what had I done!?

She moaned and groaned, then shouted out:

"Step on the other one"!!

Well, readers, I can't tell no more;

About what occurred that day.

Suffice to say my jet-black hair,

Turned fifty shades of Grey.

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SMILE, FORGIVE BUT DON'T FORGET

"SMILE, FORGIVE BUT DON'T FORGET"

(author unknown)

My mother once told me, "If they hurt you, forgive them, but never forget what they've done." This advice has stayed with me every time I meet someone new. But sometimes, it's exhausting. It’s frustrating to show kindness and receive pain in return, and it's disheartening to admire someone only to be backstabbed.

One day, I asked my mother, "Mom, do they deserve my forgiveness?"

She smiled and put down the newspaper she was reading, part of her morning ritual. "Child, everyone deserves forgiveness. If they hurt you once, forgive them. If they do it twice, give them another chance. But if they do it three times, then it’s time to forgive yourself."

Confused, I must have looked puzzled. My mother noticed and laughed, then took my hands in hers. "Forgive yourself for believing in them and getting disappointed. Forgive yourself for trusting too much. Forgive yourself for giving another chance, thinking it would be better. Free yourself from hatred, revenge, and the past."

The next morning, I found her crying in front of my father, betrayed by a friend of ten years. When I asked if she now hated her friend, she shook her head and smiled. "My heart has no room for hatred. I don't deserve to suffer from it. I have forgiven her, but I won’t forget what she did. Seeing me smile despite everything will show her who truly suffers."

Wiping her tears with the handkerchief I had given her, she added, "The best way to respond to someone who hurt you is to live a better life. Let them see what they lost and how they inadvertently helped you grow. We only live once; don't waste time on those who scar your heart. Show them what they missed out on and how they helped you become better."

Thanks to her words, I realized that if it weren't for her wisdom, I might still be haunted by things that weren't my fault.

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FRIENDSHIP HAS A WHISPER by Joanne Boyle

"FRIENDSHIP HAS A WHISPER"
by Joanne Boyle

Friendships whisper.

I thought of you today.

I realised it had been a while,

since we all caught up,

so, I got my phone to dial.

Then I got distracted.

The days turned to weeks.

Are we really friends?

When friendship hardly speaks.

Yet in our hearts we know,

the love is always there.

When one of us needs the other.

We are there to care.

Friendship has a whisper.

It doesn't go unheard.

It wraps you in its love, and

is always getting shared.

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt artist Steffi Krenzek

Heartfelt: A collection of poems written from the heart

https://amzn.eu/d/hGXPLdx

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THE SIBLINGS by Joanne Boyle

"THE SIBLINGS"
by Joanne Boyle

The siblings looked outside,

although their mother had told them no.

But they felt themselves being pulled

toward an iridescent glow.

They wondered what it was,

but then noticed it was who.

They saw their Nan and Grandpa

and their baby brother too.

Grandpa was kicking a ball.

Nana was singing a song.

Baby Charlie looked and waved

and then they all were gone.

They went and told their Mum,

who then reported back to dad.

He asked about the football

and it was like the one he had.

He asked what nana was singing.

He hummed it anyway.

Then mum asked how baby Charlie was

as she wiped her tears away.

Dad then walked to Mum

and as they held each other.

We knew that our Nan and grandad

Were looking after our little brother.

********

Author 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

ONE TIME I MET A MAN by Becky Hemsley

"ONE TIME I MET A MAN"
by Becky Hemsley

One time I met a man

Who only had a month to live

And I asked him if he had

Any advice that he could give

He said “I wake each morning

Knowing I am going to die

So each day must remind me

I am blessed to be alive

You see, my life’s on countdown

As each hour is unfurled

I know the clock is ticking

On my time here in this world

But what you’re overlooking

Is that it’s the same for you -

You know that I am dying

But forget that you are too

So make the most of sunshine

And go dancing in the rain

And sing a little louder

When your favourite music plays

Notice nature’s colours,

Savour everything you taste

Stop waiting for tomorrow

‘Cause you’ve got no time to waste

And could you say convincingly

That you’d have no regrets?

If just the next few days or weeks

Were all that you had left?”

And then my breath caught quickly

When he turned to me and asked

“Could you say that you died happy

If this day had been your last?”

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Artwork by Caspar David Friedrich

(I discovered this artwork on a recent visit to London).

From my fourth collection here: https://a.co/d/9OU8lGH

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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

EVERYTHING CHANGED

"EVERYTHING CHANGED" (author unknown)

The world shifted its axis that day—the sun rising with a different hue, shadows stretching longer. The air tasted of sorrow, and the breeze whispered secrets only the departed could hear.

I stood in the empty kitchen, the coffee pot cold, your favourite mug untouched. The ticking clock mocked me—its rhythm no longer ours. The walls held echoes—your laughter, our whispered dreams. But you were gone, and the silence was a gaping wound.

Outside, the trees swayed, oblivious to my loss. Birds sang, as if life hadn’t fractured. But my heart—oh, my heart—was a mosaic of shattered promises. The bed, once our sanctuary, now cradled solitude.

I touched the photograph on the dresser—the one where your eyes held galaxies. “Why?” I whispered. The answer, carried by the wind, eluded me. The sunflowers in the vase drooped, mirroring my grief.

Friends offered condolences, their words like fragile petals. “Time heals,” they said. But time was a cruel illusion. It stretched and twisted, mocking my longing. I clung to memories—the warmth of your hand, the taste of our shared laughter.

The nights were the hardest. The moon, a silver witness, heard my pleas. “Bring him back,” I begged. But the stars remained silent, their ancient light indifferent to my ache.

And so, I changed. The colours faded—the sky less cerulean, the grass less green. I wore grief like a second skin, its weight pulling me toward oblivion. But somewhere within, a spark resisted—the ember of our love, refusing to be extinguished.

I vowed to honour you—to live, not merely exist. To chase sunsets, write poems, and taste life’s sweetness. You, my soul’s compass, guided me from beyond. “Find joy,” you whispered. “For both of us.”

And so, I stepped into the altered world—the one where you no longer breathed. But your love—the invisible thread—pulled me forward. I danced with memories, kissed raindrops, and whispered to the stars.

Everything changed, my love. But in that change, I found resilience. I became a testament to our story—a survivor of loss, a keeper of dreams. And when the sun dipped below the horizon, I whispered to the night:

“Thank you—for the love that remains, for the courage to endure. Until we meet again.”

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 24 May 2024

GIRL AND THE LITTLE DUCKLING by Joanne Boyle

"GIRL AND THE LITTLE DUCKLING"
by Joanne Boyle

"Hello," said the girl

to the friend she just met.

The Duckling looked around

at the place he was set.

The little girl asked

"Will you come and play with me?

We could stay on dry land,

away from the sea"

Once again the Duckling

looked on confused,

but to be honest

he was also amused.

He then opened his mouth

and began to talk,

although to himself

he heard a squawk.

The little girl replied

with a squeal of delight

and said "that's a great game,

who else shall we invite?"

The Duckling was now

starting to see

The girl from the story

who saw him as me.

He looked at her

and again he spoke

and showed her his wings

that had been broke.

She stroked that wing

with love and care.

and assured him

She wouldn't leave him there.

They sat together

and woe and behold

he became a Swan

from the story told.

Some love and care

and a bit of respect

with a cup of belief

and no doubt or neglect.

Is all that it takes

to change our mindset.

So, let's be the friend

that the Duckling met.

********

Author 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

THE FARMER'S WIFE

"THE FARMER'S WIFE"

by (author unknown)

A farmer married a beautiful, clever and understanding young woman. They loved and respected each other so much, they were inseparable. They lived in a house on a hill in the city, and they had a neighbour who was an old lady.

However, the old lady hated the farmer's wife and did not keep her feelings to herself. She always made sure to harass her verbally, all the time. She would wait for her to get home everyday, and when she got home, she would come out and start hurling insults at her.

On one occasion, the old lady told her,

"What a shameless woman you are! Your father sent you abroad to study so you could become a prosperous lady and get married to a politician. But you were so dumb and ended up marrying a local farmer. Now all you do is stay at the farm for long hours, taking care of dirty and nasty cows. You're a failed woman!"

On another occasion, the old lady screamed at her,

"You may be beautiful physically, but you have a very dark and ugly soul. Your heart is filled with all the garbage in the world. You are pathetic, untalented and utterly worthless. You are good for nothing!".

The old lady kept saying a lot hurtful things to get her frustrated, irritated and moody. However, there was something unusual about the farmer's wife; she was very calm and was never bothered by the insults. Instead of becoming visibly upset to being insulted, she would let out a small laugh instead. She was peaceful and always wore a smile on her face.

Soon, the old lady became frustrated as all her efforts to infuriate the farmer's wife had failed. She could not understand why the young woman never took her insults seriously. One day, she approached her and said,

"I have been throwing all manner of insults at you. Why is it that you never seem to be bothered by them?"

The farmer's wife uttered,

"Can I ask you a question? If you give me something and I refuse to accept it, who does it remains with?"

The old lady responded,

"It remains with me."

The farmer's wife smiled and said,

"Good! It means that as long as I don't accept your insults, they remain with you. So why should I be bothered about something that's not mine?"

The world has suddenly become a place where people are there only to fight and argue with each other, be judgmental, and overall negative. We can not avoid these rude people. They are everywhere around us as a part of our society. Now or then we face them in our daily routine. But the mistake we seem to make is that we get angry and infuriated when these people insult us, make fun of us or taunt us. Anger means you are accepting that insult. Always remember that the insult belongs to them and should always remain with them. It's not your property, so when they bring it to you, do not accept it by becoming upset.

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