Thoughtful Tuesdays: Borrowed Joy

By Eithne Cullen

June is a great month to celebrate the liveliness of spring and the joys the start of summer brings. I’m using the page today to borrow the joys and feelings of Thoughtful Tuesday contributors.

Here’s a cheery greeting from Clare Brown, complete with a lovely picture of sunset.

Every Day Is A Miracle

Every day is a miracle: it’s a chance to try again.
Be hopeful that it will happen now, even if it didn’t happen then.
Things can and do change, every new day brings with it hope.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life and Today I will cope!

© Clare Brown, 2026

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While we’re borrowing themes and ideas, let’s borrow from this month’s celebrations of all things LGBTQ+ or Pride as we know it. This lovely poem came in through our submissions pages; it’s a genuine and warm conversation. I love the way the image of fledglings and leaving the nest are applied and the power of the young person seen through parents’ eyes (and voice). Thanks for sharing it.

When You Came To Tell Us You Were Gay

When you came to tell us you were gay
You had been sheltering the fledgling of yourself
Against your skin, under your T-shirt.

You had brooded your burgeoning body,
Squatted secretly over your clutch of changes,
Hatched the small bomb of your future being.

At first it was tiny; blind and naked
It nestled close, writhing away from exposure,
It’s scaly featherless body scratching your skin.

Then the overwhelming physicality
Shrilling from the nest of your body,
Gaping mouths of demand and desire.

We didn’t tell you that you had given away
The nest site. The small gestures of intimacy,
The utter joy of self-discovery,

Because you mustn’t interfere with a fledgling.
It’s hard to watch the clumsy hopping and flitting
When first they leave the nest.

Our tenderness was contingent and constrained,
Waiting and watching, giving you the space
To try those wings, to choose your song.

Until you came to us, ruffling and fanning your feathers,
Your delight in the dipping and swooping of flight,
The liquid joy of your voice.

Yes, we said, we know, we know!

© Nicky Rogers, 2026

Connect on Facebook: Nicky Rogers

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The next poem also came in through our submissions pages. It caught my attention for a number of reasons – firstly, the title which hints at a contrast between two people’s natures and the thought that they might clash. Secondly, on reading the poem I see a sense of borrowing from one another in the relationship to complement the differences in the couples’ natures. It really gives us pause for thought.

The Philosopher Meets The Artist

Enriched by his brainy attitude towards science,
His neurological cells met with my creativity.
His brain, engineering like a computer,
Catching all the 3D images of us.
His lack of empathy wounds his past.
His love for the outdoors and the animals brings a scientific nature.
A born adventurer who is in love with everything the light touches.
A part of me, emotional and carefree,
Where he is unkind at times
And can be lacking emotion.
But somehow, my kindness and light of emotions
Bring out the best in him.
His words are beyond the Earth and moon.
His mind is made of strength
No one sees, only me.
But above all that, he is my tree;
My roots grow and feed off his lines.
Together, we become powerful,
And even though I may not be his equal,
I am his superior, his philosophical stone
Burning through the sea of energy.
And that makes me free like a shimmering river.
Others do not like him
Sometimes I do not, and I know why.
But that shouldn’t stop our hearts
From beating in an everlasting stream.

© Leanne Drain, 2026

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Finally, here’s a little bit of borrowing turned on its head. It comes from Lena Smith, our Pen to Print lead. We often express our fears of AI sampling or ‘borrowing’ our precious writing. Lena has used AI to write this piece about AI, an interesting twist in the tale!

On AI Writing (Created Using AI)

I have only recently begun using AI, and my experience with it has largely been shaped by my work projects. I don’t rely on it to produce finished writing; instead, I use it as a starting point — something to help me begin, clarify my thinking and then develop ideas further in my own way. In that sense, AI has become part of the process rather than the focus of it.

What I’ve found most useful is how it creates space for reflection. Seeing alternative ways of structuring sentences or expressing ideas draws my attention to habits in my own writing, particularly repetition. It encourages me to pause, reconsider phrasing, and make more intentional choices, which has strengthened both clarity and confidence in my work.

Because my use of AI is still relatively new, I approach it with care and curiosity. I am conscious of staying in control of the final outcome and ensuring my own voice, values and judgement remain central. Used this way, AI feels less like a shortcut and more like a tool that supports thinking, refinement and growth. It has prompted me to become more aware of how I write, why I write and how I want my work to communicate with others.

© Lena Smith, 2026

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I think I’ve succeeded in borrowing lots of words and ideas. I hope you’ve enjoyed sharing them with me on this page.

Our next theme is ‘Nostalgia’ and I’d be cross with myself if I wasn’t the first to point out that nostalgia is a thing of the past!

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Issue 28, featuring author Alison Weir is out now. You will be able to find it in libraries and other outlets. Alternatively, all current and previous editions can be found on our magazines page here. 

You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo or find us on Spotify.  

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