"A NEW CHAPTER" by Becky Hemsley

"A NEW CHAPTER"
by Becky Hemsley

She asked him how he’d done it

How he’d built marshmallow towns

How he’d met a little poor boy

Who was destined for the crown

She asked him how he knew about

The language fairies speak

And how he’d caught a shooting star

That now was his to keep

She asked him how he’d swum

Right to the bottom of the sea

And how he’d seen a mountain cry

And heard the sunshine speak

She found it all a mystery

He breathed the air she breathed

But he breathed out tales of distant lands

And things she’d never seen

And she saw a world of wonder

When she looked up close at him

And when he spoke his words flowed

Like a poem on the wind

He told her that it hadn’t been

Some wings that helped him fly

And it hadn’t been a net he’d used

To catch things from the sky

It wasn’t maps that led him

To a chest of buried gold

And it hadn’t been a ship

That sailed him halfway round the world

It wasn’t bricks he’d used

To build a castle in the sky

For he told her he had lived

All of these things inside his mind

And he told her she could do it too

For reading’s all it took

And she’d open up her world

If she just opened up a book

******

Becky Hemsley 2021

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Fabulous artwork by Katy Betz

'A New Chapter' is from my first collection:

https://a.co/d/4cOFvD5a

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"SANDS OF TIME" by Ann Marie

"SANDS OF TIME"
by Ann Marie

In the shifting sands of time we stand,

Hands once clasped, now grains in the land,

You were my sun, my endless day,

But fate's cruel winds blew you away.

Through the desert of life, I wander alone,

Your laughter echoes, now a distant tone.

Yet in the night, when stars align,

I feel your warmth, your hand in mine.

The hourglass spills, with every grain,

A memory of love, a whisper of pain.

But as the sands slip through my grasp,

I hold to hope with one last gasp.

For in the end, when time is done,

When moon and stars eclipse the sun,

We'll meet again, beyond this shore,

In a place where time can touch no more.

In that world, where love is free,

The sands of time will set us free,

And hand in hand, we'll walk once more,

Together as we were before.

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"THE POWER OF ONE" by Becky Hemsley

"THE POWER OF ONE"
by Becky Hemsley

One leaf can disrupt a whole army of ants

And can leave them all scared and confused

And it takes just one word, even one from a stranger

To render our self-esteem bruised

It takes just one flick of a switch in a light room

To promptly turn everything black

And it only takes one hand to push us too far

Just one straw to break our camel’s back

It takes just a moment when all is aligned

For the sunshine to blot out the moon

And it takes just one foot to kick us whilst we’re down

Just one sprinkle of salt in the wound

And yet when we think of ourselves as the one

Then we think we’ve no power at all

That we won’t make a difference when this world’s so big

And we feel so incredibly small

But it takes just one leaf to announce spring is coming

One seed for a flower to grow

And it takes just one hand to stop someone from falling

Which might mean far more than you know

It takes just a word to make somebody’s day

Just one switch to turn dark into light

And it takes just one foot to stand up for someone,

Just one sunrise to soften the night

So harness the power of one for yourself

It’s a power you’ve held all along

Yes, I know that you think you can’t change the whole world

But you can change the world for someone

******

Becky Hemsley 2022

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Gorgeous artwork by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman at She Who Is

'The Power of One' is from the book What the Wild Replied

https://a.co/d/dyQRzqb

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"A VISIT FROM MY TWO SONS"

"A VISIT FROM MY TWO SONS"
(author unknown)

At the end of the cold afternoon, I receive an unexpected visit from my two children; one is a doctor, the other an engineer, both successful in their professions.

Less than a week ago I suffered the loss of my beloved wife. I still feel devastated by the loss that changed the course and meaning of life for me….

Sitting at the table in the living room of a simple and simple house; where I now live alone, we started talking, the topic is about my future. A cold runs down my back. Soon they are trying to convince me that the best thing for me is to live in a nursing home….

I react... I argue that the shadow of loneliness does not scare me, and old age much less, but my children insist "worried", they regret that the rooms of their spacious apartments by the sea are occupied and therefore, I cannot be neither with one nor with the other... that's what they say...

Furthermore, my sons and daughters-in-law live very busy, so they wouldn't have time to see me, without counting my grandchildren, they study almost all day, it is impossible.

In my favor, I argue without much conviction that, in that case, they could very well help me pay for a babysitter. In front of me; The doctor and the engineer say that, in reality, "three caregivers in three shifts and all with signed portfolios" would be necessary.

What would be, in times of crisis, a small fortune at the end of each month…

I refuse to accept the proposal to live in a shelter. And here comes another suggestion: they tell me that I should sell the house.

The money will be used to pay the expenses of the home where I will go for a long time, so that no one worries. Neither them, nor me...

I surrender to the arguments because I do not have more strength to face so much ingratitude and coldness.

I close my lips and do not talk about the sacrifice I made throughout my life to finance both of their studies.

I'm not saying that I stopped traveling with the family on walks, frequenting good restaurants, going to a theater or changing cars so that they would lack nothing.

It would not be worth alleging such facts at that point in the conversation. From there, without saying a single word, I decide to gather my belongings.

In a short time, I see a whole life summarized in two suitcases. With them, I embark towards another reality, much harder.

A home for the elderly, far from children and grandchildren…

Today, in the arms of solitude, I recognize that I was able to teach moral values ​​to my children. But I couldn't convey to either of them a virtue called "gratitude."

It's our fault because we are always giving them what they ask for, when we should teach them that they must "earn it"...

As working hard, helping to clean the house, cooking, washing dishes, etc., feeling part of the family nucleus, developing empathy, making them feel that they are loved and respected, so that in their adult stage, they know how to value and learn that things are.

They achieve it with effort and responsibility and show gratitude and love to their parents for having taught them to be good children….

Gratitude must be forged, it is not included in the hearts of humans, unless they have been instilled with love and fear of God first.

They must know that when they become "old" they will want to be well treated by their children and grandchildren. and that is not achieved with money, but with kindness planted in their hearts….

Let's educate our children in values ​​without forgetting to forge bonds of love.

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"IN DREAMS YOU RETURN" by Ann Marie

"IN DREAMS YOU RETURN" by Ann Marie

In the stillness of the night, you come,

Arms wrapped around me, holding tight,

Where warmth dispels the cold of loss,

And love whispers softly in the quiet.

Your kiss, a balm for my aching heart,

A tender touch to heal what’s torn apart,

In the darkness, you mend what’s frayed,

And for a moment, my fears are allayed.

But as dawn’s first light begins to glow,

I reach for you, but find the truth I know—

Death’s cruel hand has taken you away,

Leaving me to face the light of day.

Yet in dreams, you find your way to me,

A gentle presence, a sweet memory,

In these fleeting moments, I feel you near,

And for a time, my world feels clear.

So I thank you for each silent night,

When you return to make things right,

For in my dreams, you’re always mine,

If only for a brief, precious time.

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"FOREVER AND ALWAYS" by Ann Marie

"FOREVER AND ALWAYS"
by Ann Marie

When the stars fade away in the night,

I still hear your laughter, it feels so bright.

In the silence, your spirit is free,

Whispering softly like leaves on the tree.

In my heart, we linger, you and me.

We'll be together again, just wait and see,

No death can divide what you mean to me.

Love doesn't end, it only grows strong,

In every heartbeat, you’re where I belong.

In my dreams, I feel you near,

Every moment, you wipe my fear.

Though the world tries to tear us apart,

In the shadows, I hold your heart.

Time may change, but the love we share,

Transcends the boundaries, it’s always there.

I feel your warmth like a gentle embrace,

In every sunset, I still see your face.

Forever and always, our love will stay.

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"A WALK IN THE WOODS" by John A Elliott 2024

"A WALK IN THE WOODS"

by John A Elliott 2024

In the heart of summer, when the sun generously spills its golden rays across the land, there was a young woman named Elara who sought solace in the embrace of the woods. The city, with its relentless pace, had become a cacophony of sounds and a whirlwind of activity that tugged at her spirit. She longed for a moment of peace, a breath of fresh air, and a place where her thoughts could roam as freely as the wildlife.

Elara's journey began on a well-worn path, fringed with ferns that danced lightly in the breeze. The woods welcomed her with open arms, the canopy of leaves forming a tapestry of green above her head, filtering the sunlight into a warm, dappled pattern that played upon the ground. With each step, the sounds of the city faded into a distant memory, replaced by the symphony of nature: the whisper of leaves, the chirp of crickets, and the occasional rustle in the underbrush as small creatures scurried about their day.

As she ventured deeper, the forest seemed to acknowledge her presence, the ancient trees nodding their lofty crowns as if in greeting. The air was alive with the scent of pine and earth, a fragrance that spoke of ageless cycles and the quiet endurance of nature. Elara found herself drawn to a clearing where the sunlight pooled on the soft carpet of grass, inviting her to rest. She obliged, settling down with her back against the trunk of an old oak, its bark rough against her skin, grounding her in the moment.

There, in the stillness, Elara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the pure air. Her mind, once a whirlpool of thoughts and worries, began to unwind, the threads of tension loosening and drifting away on the gentle breeze. She imagined her concerns as leaves, carried off by the wind, leaving her mind clear and open, a sky without clouds.

Time seemed to stand still for Elara in the woods, the moments stretching out like the shadows of the evening. She watched as the sunlight shifted, the angles changing, painting new patterns on the forest floor. A sense of profound tranquillity settled over her, a realization that here, amidst the trees, she could just be. No expectations, no demands, just the simple act of existing in harmony with the world around her.

Eventually, the sun began its descent, signalling the end of the afternoon. Elara rose from her spot, her body feeling lighter, as if she had shed an invisible weight during her time in the clearing. As she made her way back to the path that would lead her home, she carried with her the serenity of the woods, a serene companion to guide her through the hustle and bustle that awaited.

Her walk in the woods was more than a mere escape; it was a journey to the heart of tranquillity, a reminder that peace can be found in the simplest of places. And as the city lights came into view, Elara knew that the woods would always be there, a sanctuary for any soul that sought the quiet majesty of nature.

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