THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Wednesday 5 June 2024

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

"IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE"
(author unknown)

In the blink of an eye another day is gone,

In the blink of an eye another week is gone.

In the blink of an eye another month is gone,

In the blink of an eye another year is gone.

And in the blink of an eye I'll be gone too,

And not just me but also you.

So maybe we should be wishing and hoping,

That we could just keep our eyes open.

And see and appreciate all that we can see,

And learn how we can be, the best that we can be,

Before it's too late,

Time flies, so let's not wait.

Whether we have just one life or many, one thing is true,

We should try to enjoy every moment we can; it's the wisest thing to do.

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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

TRADING PLACES by Becky Hemsley

"TRADING PLACES"
by Becky Hemsley

If one day we swapped places -

I was you and you were me

I wonder what it is that both of us

Would actually see

I wonder if you’d notice

How your smile lights up your face

How when you walk into a room

You brighten up the place

I wonder if you’d see the way

You always make the time

For those who seek you out because

You’re patient and you’re kind

And maybe I would notice

How I always stand my ground

And how I lift up those I love

When they are lost or down

Perhaps I’d notice how

I’m quite content all by myself

And how I’m always there for others

When they ask for help

And if you felt your patience

And if you could see your smile

If I could help myself

And feel my kindness for a while

Then maybe we would understand

We cannot be defined

By all that we fixate on

In our mirrors and our minds

Yes, if we both swapped places

And had someone else to be

Perhaps we’d come to realise

There’s so much we cannot see

And maybe in the moments

You were me and I was you

We would see why people love us

And we’d learn to love us too

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Beautiful artwork by Sascalia

'Trading Places' is from 'Letters from Life' https://a.co/d/cX3wuDC

and is also on my website as a free downloadable print

Tuesday 4 June 2024

THE ELDERLY COUPLE

"THE ELDERLY COUPLE"
(author unknown)

An elderly couple was having dinner one evening when the husband reached across the table, took his wife's hand in his and said, "Martha, soon we will be married 50 years, and there's something I have to know. In all of these 50 years, have you ever been unfaithful to me?"

Martha replied, "Well Henry, I have to be honest with you. Yes, I've been unfaithful to you three times during these 50 years, but always for a good reason.

Henry was obviously hurt by his wife's confession, but said, "I never suspected. Can you tell me what you mean by 'good reasons’?”

Martha said, "The first time was shortly after we were married, and we were about to lose our little house because we couldn't pay the mortgage.

Do you remember that one evening I went to see the banker and the next day he notified you that the loan would be extended?"

Henry recalled the visit to the banker and said, "I can forgive you for that. You saved our home, but what about the second time?"

Martha asked, "And do you remember when you were so sick, but we didn't have the money to pay for the heart surgery you needed? Well, I went to see your doctor one night and, if you recall, he did the surgery at no charge."

"I recall that," said Henry. "And you did it to save my life, so of course I can forgive you for that. Now tell me about the third time."

"Alright," Martha said. "So do you remember when you ran for president of your golf club, and you needed 73 more votes?"

THE ELDERLY MAN FAINTED

ETERNAL DAWN

“ETERNAL DAWN” (author unknown)

There will be a day when I won’t walk this earthly path,

When my physical form fades like a whisper in the wind.

But fear not, my loved one, for I shall linger still,

In the quiet chambers of your heart, where memories reside.

I am the beautiful sunrise that kisses your eyelids awake,

Painting the sky with hues of hope and promise.

In the golden glow of morning, feel my presence,

A gentle reminder that love transcends mere existence.

And when the sun dips low, casting shadows upon your soul,

I’ll be there—the soft breeze that caresses your skin,

Whispering secrets of eternity, weaving through your hair,

A lovely song carried by the wind, a symphony of solace.

Through joy and sorrow, I’ll walk beside you,

An unseen companion, a silent witness to your days.

Look for my signs—the robin that perches on your windowsill,

The wildflower that blooms in unexpected places.

For though my mortal form may fade, my love endures,

An eternal flame that dances across time’s tapestry.

So when you feel the ache of longing, close your eyes,

And there, in the quiet spaces, you’ll find me—forever.

THE BOY ON THE SWING by Joanne Boyle

"THE BOY ON THE SWING"
by Joanne Boyle

Every day I watched from my window

at the boy sitting on the swing.

He just sat staring at the ground.

He never moved or done a thing.

I wasn't sure what I should do,

but he wouldn't leave my mind

and whenever he was around

there was no one else to find.

I thought about approaching him

but I was worried he would get scared.

But he looked so lost and alone

as if nobody had ever cared.

I felt he needed a friend.

I could sense that he was sad.

I felt a need to help

this lost and lonely lad.

I carefully approached him.

He looked up with the saddest eyes.

He asked if I could push him

to reach the highest skies.

He told me that no one ever came,

or had shown him what to do.

I saw his shoulders slump, and

I said "should I push you?"

He smiled a little bit,

and I saw a twinkle in his eye.

He said "my Mum had always said

I should reach for the sky."

As I gently pushed him

and to and fro he went.

I showed him how to move his legs,

and told him not to keep them bent.

I asked about his parents.

"Did they know that you were here?"

But he kept on swinging higher.

Moving without fear.

I now stood in the background,

with the biggest smile on my face.

This boy had brought me happiness

that I'd lost without a trace.

Eventually he slowed down,

and I felt something very strange.

The boy that I had pushed

had now began to change.

In front of me stood a man.

and he began to cry.

He said "Mum, I knew I'd find you

If I reached up to the sky."

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

IN THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR LIVE

"IN THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR LIVE"
(author unknown)

A lot of us are in the last quarter of life and I share without politics, religion, race cards. Just gentle thoughts:

You know, time has a way of catching you off-guard about how quickly it travels.

It feels like just yesterday that I was young and ready to start adult-life. And in a way it feels like eons ago, and I wonder where the years have gone.

I know I lived them all.

I remember all my hopes and dreams. I remember the plans I made.

And suddenly, here I am in the last quarter.

How did I get here so fast?

Where have the years gone and where did my youth go?

I can recall looking at older people, thinking how long it will take for me to get where they are. That I am still in my youth, that I have many years ahead. At that time I could not even think of being where I am now.

And yet, here I am.

My friends are retired, they all have grey hair, they move much slower than they did and when I look at them, I see older people. Some are in a better and some a worse condition than me. But I see the big difference. They are no longer the youthful, carefree, full-of-life friends.

Just like me, age shows. And we are now the older people we used to look at and thought it was still a long way off.

I find that these days, taking a shower takes its toll on my breath and energy levels. And an afternoon nap is not just a treat, it’s become a necessity. And if I don’t, I find myself sleeping in the same chair I started reading or watching television in.

Now I have entered this new season of my life, totally unprepared for the discomfort, aches and pains, loss of energy and strength and ability to do what I could, yet sometimes didn’t. At least I know that, even though I am in the last quarter and I have no idea how long this quarter will be, when my time on earth is over, a new adventure awaits too.

Yes, I do have things I wish I I had never done. Yet so thankful for those I did. It is all in a lifetime.

And if you are not in the last quarter yet, I want to remind you that it comes faster than you could anticipate. Do the things you still want to do as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate. Life runs on fast legs.

Do today what you can.

There is no promise that we will all see the seasons of life. Live for today. For now.

Say the words to the ones you love. Often.

Hopefully some will appreciate the things you did for them. And if they don’t, it is also okay.

Life is truly a gift. Just be happy. It is after all your choice.

And remember that health is a treasure, not wealth, gold and silver, property or your bank balance.

You may think that going out is the best, but believe me – coming home is better.

You may forget names and that is okay, because some have already forgotten that they knew you.

The things you cared about previously, you may lose interest in.

If you fall asleep in your favourite chair, stay there.

Growing older is wonderful. It is comfortable. It is loaded with memories that you never grow tired of. It is an absolute treasure.

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

HEARTSTRINGS by Becky Hemsley

"HEARTSTRINGS"
by Becky Hemsley

There are so many things I have discovered since I had to go.

And I want to share this one with you - I want to let you in on the secret.

You see, I know you feel a sudden pull of emotions sometimes. Those moments when you lose composure and losing me hits you afresh all over again. And it might be at seemingly trivial, inconsequential times like when you’re brushing your teeth or getting into the car for work. Or at 2.30pm on any given Wednesday.

And you won’t really know why but you will suddenly remember me. Not that you’ll have forgotten me, but that I am - in that moment - all you can think about.

Overwhelmingly so.

Well, here’s the secret; that’s because of our heartstrings.

We are connected to everyone we love by invisible, unbreakable threads. And when one of us misses the other person, we only need to pull on those heartstrings to bring them a little closer to us.

Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes we grab desperately at the thread like a life buoy in a storm and our string is pulled so abruptly that it burns.

But it never breaks.

And I just wanted you to know this. So that you can be comforted by knowing that, in the moments when you suddenly miss me the most…

It’s because I am missing you too.

********

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Artwork by Shawna Erback #shawnaerbackart

‘Heartstrings’ is from When I am Gone

https://a.co/d/7kMndDJ

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

Sunday 2 June 2024

LITTLE CUP OF HAPPINESS by Joanne Boyle

"LITTLE CUP OF HAPPINESS"
by Joanne Boyle

I fill my cup with happiness,

and sip it throughout the day.

Each time I start to doubt myself,

I drink it and I say.

"This morning I awoke

with blankets on my bed.

I have clean running water,

and a roof above my head.

I have a family who love me.

Friends who really care.

I have a giving heart

that enables me to share.

I have food in my cupboards.

I am good concerning health.

I have more than so many

and for me, that is wealth.

I have my peace of mind.

A conscience that is clear.

I have a caring husband.

A daughter who is dear.

I have ears to hear laughter,

when the Grandkids play.

I have hope in my heart

that gets me through each day.

I have a coat to keep me warm.

I have shoes on my feet.

I have a home to live in,

that keeps me from the street.

So this little cup of happiness,

is more than meets the eye.

It is a cup of mindfulness,

that says, how lucky am I?"

*********

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