Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 11

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3 number 152 #poetry

This week we are writing  ekphrastic poem with the Tanka Tuesday host, Willow. I have used Willow’s photograph above. You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/03/25/tanka-tuesday-no-5-ekphrastic-photo-poem-3-25-2025/

Anupama’s prompt guidelines for the W3 prompt are as follows:Challenge:Reimagine emotions as objects;What if feelings took shape? Anger could be a blade, sharp and biting. Loneliness might be an echo in an empty room;Poetic form: Any;Length: No more than 12 lines.

You can join in W3 challenge here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/03/26/w3-prompt-152-weave-written-weekly/

I put these two challenges together.

Tangible emotion (shadorma)

Happiness

Distilled as colours

In a glass

Translucent

Uplifting and inspiring

Almost tangible

My latest poetry book, Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern Afican Flora and Fauna, is available on Amazon for pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Butterflies-Poetry-Southern-African-ebook/dp/B0F2SDF2GW

I was excited to see this notification from Amazon:

Robbie’s Inspiration – My ‘Men’ poem, My Man Babies, on MasdicadoresCanada and a new poetry book

Thank you to Ray from MasticadoresCanada for sharing my poem as part of his ‘Men’ series of poems. It is an older poem, My Man Babies, but it is a personal favourite and makes me laugh.

You can read it via the link below:

SUBMISSION CALL POEMS: MEN, the various aspects.

New Poetry Book

I also have a new poetry book available for pre-order. It’s called Burning Butterflies and the lovely Colleen has worked very hard helping me get it ready for publication. Colleen also assisted me with this beautiful cover (the artwork centerpiece is mine and is a charcoal and oil pastels drawing). You can learn about Colleen’s services here: https://colleenchesebro.org/my-services-unicorn-cats-publishing-services/

You can pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2SDF2GW

Story Chat Digest: March – Poetry Day #3

Thank you to Marsha for sharing my poem, Stripping the Veneer, for Story Chat Poetry Day #3. I’m thrilled to feature with talented poet and author, Geoff Le Pard, and his late father, Desmond Le Pard.

Welcome to Poetry Day for Story Chat Digest 2025. We will discuss these incredible poems just as we do the short stories. Any type of poem is …

Story Chat Digest: March – Poetry Day #3

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday #poetry #cosmos

Selma’s challenge for this week is as follows:

For this week’s challenge we ask participants to think of activities they like to do in the spring season and to write a series of no more than three Badger’s Hexastich on ONE activity.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No.4, Badger’s Hexastich, 3/18/25

Enjoying the cosmos

Flowers

Rolling as far

As my naked eye sees

Abundant pink and white

Revelling in

Fall’s cool

Picture caption: an abundance of cosmos

Cosmos

Reminiscent

Of spring, but actually

First sign of autumn’s kiss

Blooming in abundance

When cool weather

Arrives

Picture caption: bee visiting a single cosmos flower

Petals

Of pearly white

Arranged around centre

Bright as a mini sun

Sentinel of

Autumn

If you’d like to see what’s happening in my art world, you can visit my new art blog here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/whats-happening-in-my-art-world-watercolours-drawing-charcoal/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Thursday Doors, where are we going in Tokyo today? #Tokyo #photography

Today, I am continuing with my tour of Tokyo, Japan for Dan’s Thursday Doors. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/03/20/a-few-leftovers/

So where am I today?

Picture caption: A multistory building with a giant fish painted on it. Several trucks are parked in front – they have doors.

John Rieber will know. If you don’t know yet, enjoy the doors on the trucks.

Picture caption: kelp for sale. There is a door into the shop in the back on the picture.Picture caption: A pie cabinet – nope! It a cabinet with doors displaying cooked fish.

Have you worked out where I am yet?

Picture caption: lots of huge and scary looking crab legs.

This video shows a man cooking crab legs with a blow torch. And now you know where I am.

Picture caption: sign of the Tsukiji Nippon Fish Port Market in TokyoPicture caption: I took this picture of the power lines because I thought it was amazing. It looked quite unsafe too.Picture caption: soup at the fish market. The cabinets behind have doors.Picture caption: lots and lots of fish for sale. The man doesn’t look very happy.Picture caption: you can also buy your crabs live. The tank has doors – haha!

Lots of hustle and bustle at the Tokyo fish market:

Next week there is no Thursday Doors. I am planning to share a little surprise our guide showed us in this market. I will be going into hospital on Friday, 4 April for a sinus operation. Wish me well – I am terrified.

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Freya Pickard, and my book reviews #poetry #bookreviews

Today, I am delighted to feature poet and author, Freya Pickard, as my March Treasuring Poetry Guest. Freya is a great supporter of the WordPress …

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Freya Pickard, and my book reviews #poetry #bookreviews

What is symbolism and how to use it in your writing and an example: great expectations by Charles dickens

Hi SEer’s, it’s Robbie with your today and I am sharing some thoughts about the symbolism in literature and how you can use it in your own writing. …

What is symbolism and how to use it in your writing and an example: great expectations by Charles dickens

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3 #poetry #birds

Tanka Tuesday – Mondo

Melissa’s prompt:

“Hello, all! It’s the second week of March, and here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are that much closer to spring! For this edition of Tanka Tuesday, I’ve decided to write a mondo based on the seasons we’re in.

So, if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, you will be writing about the cusp of winter and spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be writing about summer / fall.

The mondo is a syllabic form that consists of two stanzas. It is usually collaborative. The first stanza asks an open-ended, poignant question. The second stanza attempts to answer the question and glean meaning from nature.”

You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/03/10/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-3-mondo-3-11-25/

Autumn Plans

Perched on a slim branch

Southern Carmine Bee Eater

Is he making autumn plans?

***

Soon he will venture northwards

Leaving behind current home

Long and strenuous journey

Picture caption: Southern Carmine Bee EaterW3 prompt number 150Sally’s prompt guidelinesWrite a story in any poetic form, using no more than 500 words.

You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/03/12/w3-prompt-150-weave-written-weekly/

Southern Carmine Bee Eater

Hanging onto the back of a convenient transporter

Any large bird or herbivore will do

Elicit hitchhiker is not fussy

Mouth open it guzzles flushed insects

Dressed for success in bright crimson

The Southern Carmine Bee Eater, aka ‘cousin to the fire’

Due to its attraction to fires

Where it lurks on the edges

Snapping up fleeing bugs

One creature’s drama is another’s feast

Picture caption: Southern Carmine Bee Eater

Robbie’s Inspiration Thursday Doors – Mount Fuji, the fifth stop #photography

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/03/13/east-hartford-detour/

The final stop on our Mount Fuji tour was called the 5th stop and is 1,500 metres from the top. It was bitterly cold and the toilets in the restroom were frozen. They had to be flushed manually.

Picture caption: A picture of the shop and restaurant. They stocked Japanese whiskey which was interesting as it was out of stock everywhere else.This building was across the road and in front of Mount Fuji. I’m not sure what it is used for – maybe a hotel during the warmer months.A different view of Mount Fuji with trees in front.Picture caption: TC in the parking lot with Mount Fuji in the backgroundPicture caption: This is me in the parking lot. I was frozen.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Cook and Read: The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle and Toad in the Hole with onion gravy

Today I am sharing my review of a book recommended to me by Linda’s Book Bag. Linda has a lovely book book and you can read her review of this book here: https://lindasbookbag.com/2022/07/07/the-museum-of-ordinary-people-by-mike-gayle/.

I am also sharing my delicious experience with Tin Eats’ Toad in the Hole and onion gravy recipe. Yummy!

Thanks to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle and Toad in the Hole #fiction #cooking