Breaking free from loneliness and abuse. The metaphor of a faithful dog waiting for crumbs conveys a desperate longing for love and affection. The poem explores themes of loneliness and emotional abuse in a relationship.

Wilted No More story continues. This poem symbolises a faithful dog waiting for crumbs from its master's table, and Grace, now a wife and mother, waiting for crumbs of affection from her husband of sixteen years. He is so busy working and spending time with his mates that Grace is alone at home with her two young daughters most of the time. When he is home, he vents his anger toward her and their children.

She must make a stand against him for the sake of her daughters - 'This is not the way a husband and father should treat those who love him.' Grace feels lonely and unloved. She recognises her worth and the need for a loving environment, so she musters up the courage to leave her husband. From the story Wilted No More.

Poem: A Crumby Tale

I sit beside the table of love, waiting for my ‘master’

To brush off the crumbs of love my way

So I can rush to devour them.

I wait patiently and hopefully for scraps of affection to come my way

Wait week after week in hope

I keep telling myself, 'the master loves me'

He’s just really busy at the moment.

As the years roll on, my hunger makes me desperate

I wait patiently to gain his attention

My efforts are to no avail.

I have to make a decision to stay and wait longer

Or leave and find what I need elsewhere

I wait, I wait, starving for affection

I wait for him to apologise for his negligence, but he doesn’t.

I can’t wait any longer

My very life force is slipping away

I must make a decision.

I accept that my master doesn't love me

He is supposed to, but he doesn’t

Behind his smile and his charm

He is cruel, rude and verbally abusive.

How foolish was I to stay and wait

Apology and affection were not on his agenda

He was too busy working.

I feel so ashamed for being so naïve

Yet I still have some pride

I get up and walk away

To find a place where I am loved

For my loyalty and affection.

I am good, fair and caring

I deserve to be loved and cared for

My only flaw is my foolish choice

With whom I place my loyalty.

I don’t look back, I just focus on the road ahead

My heart sways between wanting my old master back

And wanting a new master who will show me affection

And feed me more than crumbs from his table of love.

Beverley Joy © 2013 Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

Read or listen to my poems on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠and at ⁠⁠⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠⁠⁠

Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy.

The vulnerability and excitement of a first date for young adult love. This poem is part of a series, Wilted No More, that reflects my life story and is a sequel to The Wilted Rose book. Both tell the story of significant events in Grace's life - falling in love, falling out of love, marriage, divorce, and motherhood.

Grace's relationship with Alex only lasted one year. Melbourne, Victoria, was too cold for her as her puppy love for Alex had grown cold. She returns to Brisbane, Queensland, shares a flat with a friend, secures a full-time job, and buys a car.

She goes to a disastrous Christmas party, with Brian as her blind date, a friend of a work colleague. This poem reflects their first romantic date together as young adults. Love is in the air once more for Grace. Beverley Joy.

The first date

The clock was ticking, I was waiting to hear your footsteps at my door

So romantic, so debonair, I basked in your adoring flair.

As you entered into my world, I nervously tripped on my words

Awkward glances, friendly banter.

I said too much, I went on and on revealing my heart, opening my soul

It left me feeling vulnerable, 'Will I regret it tomorrow?'

I came out of my shell feeling happy and whole

But is that the me that he wants to see?

Throughout the date, we reminisced over common interests and music

We shared our stories of adventures and dreams, past, present, and future.

'Am I over the top? Was I too much? Will he reconsider or prefer someone else?'

I’ve lived my life as a captive bird; now the cage is flung open, I’ll fly upward

It feels so strange, so alien, that I might fly back in and hide again.

No one ‘knows’ me, I don’t ‘know’ myself, but I like what I feel, it’s exciting stuff.

Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry 2012. All rights reserved.

Read or listen to my poems on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠and at ⁠⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠⁠

Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy.

How attraction evolves into familiarity and love. This poem illustrates the journey from attraction to deep familiarity and love, highlighting how the relationship flourishes. It reflects the warmth of love and the formation of a solid friendship, emphasising the comfort and simplicity of connection. Despite uncertainties and past emotional wounds, there is hope for a future filled with shared experiences, including potential marriage and family. The poem expresses a desire for genuine acceptance and understanding, underscoring the pure intent behind feelings.

Grace and Brian have been going steady for over a year. They are contemplating what lies ahead for their relationship.

From romance to love

I held your face in my hands, I looked into your eyes,

I smiled, I sighed.

My heart felt warm, it poured forth love,

A friendship was formed, of that I was sure

A love I hope will weather many a storm.

It does not demand, it’s just comfortable

It’s simple, it’s sincere, no need to fear

Its intent is pure, it’s demure.

I speak some words, and they come out wrong

I misconstrue; I confuse

If I write you a poem the words will speak

Smooth and true, honest and clear.

I mean no harm as I hesitate

My heart’s been bruised and the wounds go deep

Accept my embrace one by one, moment by moment as genuine.

Who knows where this new love may lead?

A wedding, children, extended family.

A home of our own with a garden and swings

A future together, hopefully.

Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry © 2015. All rights reserved.Read or listen to my poems on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠⁠⁠⁠I really appreciate you listening to my poem.

Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy

New Year's Resolutions. Happy New Year to my readers and listeners. Diaries and calendars are on sale now that the new year has burst out of the starting blocks and will soon gain speed. New Year's Resolutions are made this month. By the end of January, some people will have already broken their well-meaning intentions, a few won't even bother setting any goals for the year, and some will be slow out of the starting blocks and need another month or two before they get started. Others will have set their goals for the year and are competing in the race against time. I wrote this poem reflecting on how we humans run the race against time.

A Scribble in TimeTick-tock, tick-tock, time waits for no man

The relentless rhythm of the hands

As they walk their way around the clock

Day in, day out, they never tire of their work.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, humans, can only hope to find

A way to organise their mind

To sync what they do at work and leisure,

To fit in with the times, hourly chimes.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, I scribble my goals on a piece of paper

I sit curled up on my comfy lounge

A calendar and diary with art on the cover

With a pen and white-out stick ready in hand.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, determined to achieve my goals this year

I think as I scribble my plan onto the paper

I'll do this today, I'll do that tomorrow

I'll go here in September, and I'll go there in December.

Tick-tock, tick-tock. When I'm finished, I lean back and sit tall in my chair

With a smirk on my face, I say, "I've won the race

With the hands of time, I've silenced its chimes

My plan is sealed in whiteout and ink."

Tick-tock, tick-tock, at Christmas time, I know I will find

My diary, full of whiteout and scribbles in time

Confessions of frustration and of cause celebration

In my race to chase time to the finish line.

Beverley Joy © 2022 of Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

Read or listen to my poems on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠⁠⁠I really appreciate you listening to my poem. Beverley Joy

The True Value of Free Gifts: Quality Time and Talents. As we enter this year's busy time of shopping for the perfect gifts for our friends and family, remember that, as well as giving physical gifts this Christmas, there are many gifts we can give that are free yet priceless. Time is one of those free but valuable gifts we can provide.

Ah, yes, but the saying says 'Money is time.' But is money the only way we can receive 'payment' for how we spend our time? Do we always have to receive 'payment' for our time?

Listen to other poems about giving titled "A Hug is Priceless" and "A Gift to Our Family."

This Featured Image shows the person sharing time. We can waste time with people, or we can give the gift of quality time, which requires skill. Quality time is only one of many skills and talents that we can share with others.

Poem: The Best Gift to Give is You

Give away that which you have plenty of

To others who are devoid of

To those in desperate need of

For you are the best gift you can offer.

If you have good health and strength

Love, joy, peace, and patience,

If you delight to encourage

Share these qualities with others.

Share your talent and experience

Don't hide them deep within

Learn the skills you need to know

To share your gifts with the world.

If you write, if you paint, if you sing

Then share a story through your gift

If you love to serve and help others

Then serve with a gracious attitude.

An unwritten book, a painting half-finished,

A song unsung and a cake unbaked,

Serving hands tied behind your back

Are of no value to anyone, nor even yourself.

To share our gifts will take time and effort,

Courage, focus and discipline

God gives us talents we must develop

And share with those waiting to receive.

Beverley Joy © 2021 of Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Rese

My poetry verses are available to purchase as print-on-demand gift ideas in my shop at beverleyjoy.redbubble.com.

Read or listen to my poems at ⁠⁠Simply Story Poetry⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠and at ⁠⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠⁠.

May you enjoy this Christmas time with someone that you love and receive love in return. Beverley Joy.

Spending Christmas far away from family and friends. Many families and friends are separated at this special time of the year. We have to enjoy Christmas Day the best way we can when our family cannot get together.

I chose this Featured Image partly because of what is written on her coffee mug - 'Make today awesome.' To me, this image conveys the poem's message: her longing to be elsewhere and not alone, yet also her acceptance of the situation she is in and her resolve to enjoy the day as best she can.

Poem: Far Away for Christmas

It was Christmas away from home

Hot and humid as we drove to church

For the Christmas Day morning service

To celebrate the story of Christmas.

My daughter lived with me, so I wasn't alone

Once we got home, we prepped for lunch

We played carols to build the Christmas spirit

And opened the few gifts that were under the tree.

We called family members who lived far away

And chatted with them throughout the day

It felt strange, not being all together in one place

Our family split over a long distance.

We embraced our quiet solitude

Reflecting on our busy year

Moving away from our home city

Finding work and studying.

We spent Christmas Day in our new place

Work commitments over the following days

Kept us from flying or driving away

So, we enjoyed a simple Christmas lunch.

We ate leftovers with some family and friends

In the cool of the late afternoon

And reminisced over the past Christmas days

Hoping next year, we can travel to be with our family again.

Beverley Joy © 2019 of Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

My poetry verses are available on print-on-demand gift ideas in my shop at beverleyjoy.redbubble.com.

Read or listen to my poems at ⁠⁠Simply Story Poetry⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠and at ⁠⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠⁠.

Thank you for listening to my poem. Why not listen to my other poems about gift-giving titled:

It's wonderful to enjoy Christmas Day all together in one place. But even the best plans can be turned upside down; Christmas Day can present challenges in getting the family together or getting along with everyone who has been invited. We want the day to run smoothly on this special day of the year. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't—that's family life - full of pleasant surprises and challenges. Christmas Day can be messy for some families, whether due to work commitments, divorce, the loss of a loved one, or a lack of money to buy gifts.

Poem: Together for Christmas

Another Christmas comes and goes

Our family spread from Coast to Coast

We'll share Christmas lunch in Australian style

Cold drinks, salad, and desserts in the summertime.

My brother and wife, I don't see them much

As they live a ten-hour drive away

But we'll eat and chat when we catch up

This Christmas Day together in one place.

Mum's ill health and operations

Dad’s knees are weak and keep failing him

They're growing old and we must accept

This Christmas may be the last one we share with them.

Our children are healthy and busy

They live independently, spread throughout the city

But, on Christmas Day, we'll relax and enjoy their company

And remember when we had such youthful energy.

The grandkids run about and play

With Christmas presents, they have received

Their childish chatter smiles, and cries

Keep the adults attentive to their needs.

Christmas Day can be perfect or messy

Satisfying or disappointing, memorable, or forgettable

Either way, tradition draws families together

To share the day, each family in their unique way.

Beverley Joy © 2018 of Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

Listen to my other poem about Family Christmas: Far Away For Christmas, and my poems about gift-giving: A Hug is Priceless, The Best Gift to Give is You, and A Mirror Reflects What You Can Give.

Read or listen to my poems at ⁠Simply Story Poetry⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠Pinterest, ⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠and at ⁠simplystorypoetry.com⁠.Thank you for listening to my poem. I wish you a wonderful holiday season. Beverley Joy.

The Story of Jesus Christ began in the Garden of Eden and will end in God's new garden. This Feature Image is the same one I used in The Christmas Story in the Garden of Eden Part 1. My interpretation of this image is that God's hands hold the garden. The smoke and fire rising from the garden depict the destruction of paradise by Adam and Eve's disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden. But there is a glimpse of a city on the other side of the fire, depicting God's promised new city and garden. The waterfall represents the river of life that will run through God's new garden. A lion depicts Jesus (Revelation 5:5), and the eagle with its wings spread wide, soaring over the garden, reminds me of one of my favourite verses in the Bible. (My poem titled Eagle Wings, based on Isaiah 40:31a): "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles."

Christians wait eagerly for God's new heaven and the new earth…He will dwell among His people. He will wipe away every tear…no more death, mourning, crying or pain… Those things will pass away. He will make all things new… Revelation 21.

Poem: Back to the Garden

Through Adam and Eve's genealogy

A baby was born in history

Who grew to become the Saviour of the world

To rescue mankind from sin and toil.

Jesus showed us a glimpse of heaven on earth

When He lived with us, He lived out God's love

He healed the sick, and He fed the poor

To the down and outcast, He showed mercy and grace.

The first Adam failed in the first garden

He lived one thousand years before he died

The second Adam was Jesus Christ

Willingly died to save mankind.

From sin and death, He rescued us

And put an end to the Adamic curse

Now we eagerly await His return

When King Jesus will rule in God's new garden.

A new world with a Holy garden city

Will be God's dwelling place with His people

God will wipe away every tear and all pain

Death shall be no more; all will be made new.

Until His return, Jesus commanded the church

To share the Good News and continue His work

To care for the sick and dying of this world

To show mercy and love to the down and outcast.

As Christians, we wait eagerly for Jesus' return

We encourage each other with His words

"I will return, Live in peace and do not fear"

Oh, I can't wait to walk in the garden with Him.

Beverley Joy © 2022 Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

The poems in this series: The Christmas in the Garden of Eden - Part 1, Four Unusual Women - Part 2, 700BC - Part 3, Mary - Part 4, 23rd Nov, Mary and Elizabeth - Part 5, Joseph Part 6, The Savious is born - Part 7, Gifts fit for a king - Part 8, Quick, Save the Saviour - Part 9, Back to the Garden - Part 10.

Read or listen to my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and at simplystorypoetry.com and follow me on Instagram

Thank you for listening to this poem. May God's blessing be with you.

Beverley Joy