"YOU WALKED WITH ME TODAY" by Joanne Boyle

"YOU WALKED WITH ME TODAY"
by Joanne Boyle

I thought of you today.

That was nothing new.

I will think of you tomorrow,

and the next day too.

I looked for you today,

as soon as I awoke.

Then my heart reminded me

why it was now broke.

I cried for you today.

I caught my tears in a cup.

I couldn't bare to empty them

so many are now full up.

I walked with you today,

though I couldn't see you there.

But I have now come to accept,

you go with me everywhere.

I shouted at you today.

I asked why you left me here.

Another cup awaited

to catch another tear.

You smiled at me today.

In a memory that I found.

It caught me unaware,

and i fell to the ground.

I had another cup ready

but the tears never came.

Instead I sat with the memory

and you looked the same.

You walked with me today.

We revisited familiar places.

I said "hello," to people passing

with curiosity on their faces.

I said sorry to you today.

You never left me here at all.

You were still by my side.

Just waiting for my call.

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

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"THE DAM" by Becky Hemsley

"THE DAM"
by Becky Hemsley

She’d built herself a dam

So she could hold her tears at bay

A wall of stubborn barricade

To keep the pain away

Her barriers were busyness

Distraction and denial

And ignoring and avoiding’s

How she coped for quite a while

But the trouble was, her dam

Left nowhere for her pain to go

So it sat behind her wall

With nothing left to do but grow

The tightening in her chest

Began constricting every breath

And to battle every painful thought

Took every ounce of strength

The lump inside her throat

Got slightly bigger every day

And before too long she found

She couldn’t blink her tears away

So the pressure kept on building

And the dam began to crack

And it soon became impossible

To hold the water back

So she let the dam burst open

And as she felt the water flow

She realised sometimes all we need

Is just to let it go

*******

Becky Hemsley 2020

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Stunning artwork by Demi Chen (@demi.draws on Instagram)

'The Dam' is from Talking to the Wild

https://a.co/d/imitWfM

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"KEEP YOUR CIRCLE SMALL"

"KEEP YOUR CIRCLE SMALL" (author unknown)

A young girl asked an elderly woman:

"Do I really need friends in life?"

The elderly woman responded:

"Yes. Life is truly very rough. There should be someone by your side with whom you can talk for hours without feeling that they would judge you; on whose shoulders you can cry, one who will give you emotional support. When no one will be there for you, they should be there. One who should help you share the good times and overcome the difficult ones."

The young girl asked:

"Is it true that a fake friend is more dangerous than an enemy?"

The elderly woman responded:

"Yes. It's because you know who your enemy is and you're not going to let them get close to you. But a false friend is pretending while getting your trust. They find out your vulnerabilities, your secrets and your dreams. They know which button to press and how to stab you in the back."

The young girl asked:

"How do I avoid being surrounded by fake friends?"

The elderly woman paused for a short moment, then asked,

"Between a small garden and a forest, which one has more snakes and scorpions?"

The young girl responded:

"The forest, sure!"

The elderly woman smiled, and then said:

"Good! When you keep your circle of friends small like a small garden, the less snakes and scorpions you have to worry about, even rats. The fewer people you hang out with, the fewer problems you have to deal with. When I was young, I had a very big group of friends. But as I grew old and wise with experience, my circle of friends became smaller. I realised that quality outweighs quantity when it comes to friendship. Don’t fool yourself by holding onto the illusion that everyone is your friend. You may have numerous acquaintances, but real friends will always be just a few people you love and trust. The best way to prevent yourself from falling into the fake friend trap is by being more mindful about the size of your circle."

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"THE WISE MAID"

"THE WISE MAID" (author unknown)

One day, a queen decided to hold a game among her four maids. She told them,

"The four of you will play a game - some sort of a wonderful game. It is called WWFEF. Whoever wins the game will be rewarded with a glorious dress, some expensive jewelleries and a huge amount of money. Are you ready?"

The four maids were excited to play the game. As they got ready, the queen said,

"Before the game starts, I want you to eat plenty of food as it will be a challenging game. Make sure you fill your stomachs and be confident."

The maids were quickly ushered to a table loaded with delicious food and drinks. They all ate heartily to satisfaction. When they had finished eating, the queen told them,

"Shall we start the game now? Like I said before, the game is called WWFEF... it means 'Who Will Finish Eating First'. You will each be served a bowl of food, and whoever finishes her food first wins the game."

The maids were completely shocked and stunned. They became filled with confusion as they had already filled their stomachs. There was no possibility of them taking on another food. They knew they had no chance of winning.

At that moment, the maids were each served a bowl of food. However, one of them surprisingly rushed through her own food like a hungry lion. She ate hurriedly and finished in a few minutes. She won the game.

The queen looked at her with amazement and asked,

"How come you were able to finish your own food despite having eaten before?"

The maid smiled and said,

"I didn't eat the first food served. I sensed something odd about it, so I poured mine on the floor. To be honest, I always trust my instincts."

The queen remarked,

"You are such a wise young woman!"

MORAL LESSON

Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifest.

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TWO YEARS HAVE PASSED

"TWO YEARS HAVE PASSED"
(author unknown)

Two years have passed, the world says, "Let go,"

But love, like the river, continues to flow.

It doesn't heed time, nor the whispers of change,

For in my heart, you still remain.

They say you're gone, but I feel you near,

In every shadow, every tear.

The signs you send, subtle but true,

Are the gentle reminders, I'm still with you.

Love didn't pause, didn't cease to be,

It's not bound by the chains of mortality.

It's a flame that burns, through wind and through rain,

A beacon of hope, through loss and through pain.

So I'll hold on, as I always do,

To the love we shared, pure and true.

For you're more than a memory, you're part of my soul,

A love that completes me, that makes me whole.

And though you've crossed to the other side,

Our hearts are still one, not divided by the tide.

For love is eternal, it doesn't end with goodbye,

It's the light in the dark, the bond that can't die.

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"THE LEGLESS BEGGAR"

"THE LEGLESS BEGGAR" (author unknown)

One day, a rich kid was walking with his dad when he saw an old legless beggar on the street, begging for alms. The boy stopped his dad immediately and walked up to the disabled beggar.

"Hey sir, can I ask you a question?" he asked him.

"Yes you can" the old man replied.

Then the boy said.

"What happened to your legs? Why are they missing?"

A look of shame showed on the dad's face as he whispered into his son's ears.

"Hey, you should never ask people inappropriate questions"

The old man heard it. He paused for a moment, then said to the little boy.

"Can I tell you a short story?"

The boy nodded his head. Then old man said.

"It's a true story about a young boy, and you should pay keen attention"

"Okay"

The old man started speaking.

"There was a boy who had a donkey he loved so much. He called him Banjo, and he was his best companion. One day, he went to bathe in the river and had taken the donkey with him for a bath. Unfortunately, a huge crocodile suddenly leaped out of the water and grabbed the donkey, dragging him deep in the water. The boy couldn't save his donkey. He screamed so hard as he watched poor Banjo being killed. He became so angry like a volcano. Burning with anger, he must wreak vengeance, so he jumped into the river to fight the ferocious crocodile. But it didn't turn out good as another crocodile attacked the boy and started devouring him... The end"

Having listened to the story, the kid wagged his head, then asked.

"So, what happened to the boy afterwards? Or was he also killed?"

The old man paused for a moment, then said.

"Over the years, that boy has grown into an old man and he is now me. I just told you a story about myself, thereby answering your question. I survived but lost both legs from the incident"

Both the father and son were marvelled. Then the old beggar concluded.

"My story has a powerful lesson about anger and revenge, you should take away. You should learn to control your anger, or else you would be pushed to inflict vengeance, which would not only hurt others, but also yourself. I was so angry and desperate, I wanted that revenge so bad that I didn't realize how stupid I was. Anger can make you take stupid actions that you would live forever to regret. You see, if I had controlled my anger and walked home after the crocodile ate my donkey, I wouldn't be the 'legless beggar' you see today. It's important you learn to forgive those who hurt you, and move on with your life. Not because they deserve it, but because you deserve peace.

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"A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE"

"A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE" (author unknown)

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and it had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farmhouse. Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed the horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of new boots."

His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near. With gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied quietly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."

Baffled and impatient, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley.

The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the smell of the insulation smouldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together in front of the barn. They were speechless and stunned as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulder as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old, withered hand.

The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill, the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top- most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.

Bedded down around the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill to safety beneath the pine. And now she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife.

Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift ---LOVE. Because of love. Only Because of love.

Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And again the peace of love filled their hearts.

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"SHARING SECRETS" by Joanne Boyle

"SHARING SECRETS"
by Joanne Boyle

We shared so many secrets,

I'd listen and you'd tell.

I would lift my paw to yours

when you weren't feeling well.

I would lay beside your feet

so you knew that I was near.

I would make my presence known

when I could sense your fear.

I would bring my favourite toy,

begging you to play.

I just wanted you to focus

for your mind not to stray.

I had noticed that when we walked,

your step no longer bounced

and when you threw my ball

I no longer pounced.

Still, we remained best friends,

your words into my ears

and the tongue I used so often,

to lick away your tears.

Then one day I waited,

but I knew that you were gone,

and I have all the answers,

but a voice, I have none!

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

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