Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 13

Robbie’s Inspiration – Syllabic poetry Spin the Bottle week 6: Senryu and Colleen’s bird prompt #Tokyofishmarket #birds #poetry

This week I’ve selected the senryu as my chosen form. This is what Colleen says about senryu.

24 Forms

This is my first ever senryu:

Endless piles of fish

The sight makes me feel queasy

I’m not a fish fan

Picture caption: One of the stalls at the Tokyo fish marketPicture caption: Crab legs at the Tokyo fish marketGreater flamingoes

Colleen’s prompt this week is a bird. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/02/10/early-spring-japanese-bush-warblers/. I have chosen the greater flamingo as my bird.

The greater flamingo is seen in many areas across South Africa. It prefers saline and brackish water. Listed as near threatened, the primary threat to the greater flamingo is habitat destruction due to pollution in the water and habitat encroachment.

The poem is a double ennead and is from my poetry collection about the Sixth Mass Extinction, Lion Scream.

The Pink Fringe

Deep within the wetlands
She sits on her nest
A conical structure that fits just one egg
On which rests the future
Of her dying breed
***
Human reclamation
Of this nesting site
Has rendered flamingos highly endangered
With nowhere left to go
Their numbers decline
***
Will our children enjoy
The fabulous sight
Of thousands of birds decorating the shore
Glowing pink in the sun
A colourful fringe

Picture caption: Greater flamingo standing on one leg

This post is also for https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/02/11/little-cormorant-birds-of-the-week-invitation-ciii/. If you like birds, head on over and have a look at other bird lovers posts.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Thursday Doors on a Friday: Mount Fuji first story, Oshini Park #Japan #ThursdayDoors

Oshini Park is the first stop on the Mount Fuji day tour. I think this stop provided some of the best photograph opportunities of Mount Fuji but it was crowded.

This post is for Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors: https://nofacilities.com/2025/02/13/iowa-law-library/

Picture caption: These are the equivalent to tents in Japan. This is effectively a camping site at Oshini Park. Pretty amazing, I thought.Picture caption: A few houses around the lake with views of Mount FujiA boat jetty with a locked gate and Mount Fuji in the backgroundPicture caption: Lake shot with hills in the backgroundPicture caption: Lake shot with Mount Fuji in the background. I really like this picture.

These are my fancy camera shots:

Picture caption: another shot of the boat jetty gate with Mount Fuji in the background. I like the frame created by the plants in this picture.Picture caption: Mount Fuji and its reflection in the lakePicture caption: another creative shot featuring Mount FujiPicture caption: This photograph was taken closer to the parking lot and souvenir shop so it was much busier. I liked the red plant to the side of the picture. Picture caption: The parking lot and the souvenir shop and restaurantPicture caption: Front entrance to the souvenir shop

Robbie’s Inspiration – Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle: all about Japan #cooking #reading

This month, I am sharing a review of Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen and which explores Japanese mythology in great detail. I’ve also shared pictures and recipes from the cooking class TC and I attended during our Tokyo trip.

Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen and a Japanese cooking class #Japan #bookreview

Robbie’s Inspiration – Exciting book news and a book review: I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark by Michelle Ayon Navajas #poetry

After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology – A Powerful Collection of Voices Against Abuse and Violence

I am delighted to announce the launch of this global anthology that includes some of my poems and an essay by Michael Cheadle on gender based violence in South Africa.

Thank you to Michelle Ayon Navajas for all her hard work on this collection.

After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology by Amazon Bestselling author Michele Ayon Navajas marks the third installment in the After Rain Skies series. This powerful collection gathers writers, poets, and storytellers from across the globe, each using their voice against all forms of abuse and violence. Within these pages, you’ll find both personal stories and those that have inspired others—raw, real accounts of resilience, courage, and the journey from darkness to light, expressed through poignant prose and stirring poetry.

Releasing worldwide on Amazon on March 8, 2025, in celebration of International Women’s Day, this anthology sheds a light on the strength and determination of survivors everywhere. Featuring collaborations from talented poets, writers, and storytellers, After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology is a testament to the power of shared voices and the hope for a brighter future.

You can read more about this anthology here: https://theupdateindia.com/books/after-rain-skies-the-global-anthology-a-powerful-collection-of-voices-against-abuse-and-violence/

I Am In Itself Poetry In the Dark by Michelle Ayon NavajasPicture caption: The cover of I am In Itself Poetry In the Dark by Michelle Ayon NavajasWhat Amazon says

Michelle Ayon Navajas is an international Best-Selling Poet. She is known for her books reaching the #1 spot within days of their release. “I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark” is Michelle’s 8th book.

This is Michelle’s 8th poetry book and her official entry to Amazon’s Pentopublish 2022 book publishing contest. Unlike her previous books that talk so much about love in its glorious ways, this book is about the reality that living and loving are not at all roses. For the first time, she writes about grief and death and how we can heal from experiences that constantly weigh us down so we can move forward.

My review

Michelle Ayon Navajas is an activist for women’s rights and uses her pen as a sword to fight against abuses of women. This very intention makes her poetry worth reading and her unique poetry writing style, which makes use of dialogue and a very personal approach to her topic, is incredibly compelling.

This poetry collection revolves around the sensitive topic of rape and Michelle approaches it in three parts, as follows:

1. The Reality You Wish You Never Had includes hard hitting poems about the violent and invasive act of rape and its mental health consequences for the victim. The following short extract from I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark from Part 1 deftly summarises the full intent and import of this introduction section of poems.

“poetry is for breathing life into words
feelings so hard to tell over an everyday discourse
so let me bring to life my words as a young lady
whose scream was not heard
whose cry was muted
whose voice was silenced.”

One of the poems in this section that impacted me the most is Family: To Be or Not To Be and talks about family ties that are not also blood ties.

Another hard hitting poem is My Story which really depicts in strong words how women are pushed down and disrespected for wanting some sort of equality to their male counterparts. If you are a modern woman, this poem will make you cringe and consider how you view those women who are victims of misogynism and how easy it is to assign blame to them for their untenable situation. It also acts as a reminder of why women as a larger group should remember not to take female rights for granted and to stand up for them and always exercise our rights to the fullest extent available. Never take them for granted.

2. The Love You Will Die For is the title of Part 2 and is a strongly worded guideline to victims on how to find self redemption and salvation by taking control of their own lives. Writing is recommended as one tool on this difficult road. The following extract is from Rebirth and illuminates this part:

“literature offers a smorgasbord
of rebirth stories
from the classic rebirth story of
Ebenezer Scrooge in Christmas Carol
who sees the error of his ways and transforms
to the magical love story of Beauty and the Beast
when Belle realized there was more to the Beast
being just a beast.”

3. Part 3 is entitled The Child You Will Nurture and Care and this is the most uplifting section of this book as it depicts the mourning for the loss of innocence by victims and the path to letting go and moving on. I am quoting a stanza from Before There Was August for this part:

“they say time heals all wounds
that there is healing in losing
that there is more love even after
you’re gone to never come back”

This is a book all women should read and appreciate whether it be as a guideline to personal recovery or a reminder to count your own blessings, not judge those less fortunate, and appreciate to the utmost your opportunities and freedoms.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BHJPSZLC

Robbie’s Inspiration – Syllabic poetry Spin the Bottle week 5: Abhanga, Esther Chilton’s writing challenge and Colleen’s seasonal prompt

This week, I have rolled Esther Chilton’s writing challenge into my Spin the Bottle post as her prompt word is secret. This word popped up in both my abhanga poems quite without any planning on my side. I thought it was very kind of the muse so I’m going with it.

You can join in Esther Chilton’s writing challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/02/05/writing-prompts-51/

This is what Colleen says about abhanga syllabic poetry: https://tankatuesday.com/tanka-tuesday-poetry-cheat-sheet-for-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenges-2/#abhanga

Colleen also has a new prompt to write seasonal syllabic poetry. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/tanka-tuesday-poetry-cheat-sheet-for-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenges-2/#abhanga

Secret Rainbow

Multicoloured rainbow

Secreted in water

Gifts joy to observant

Beauty seekers

Picture caption: I was delighted by this secret rainbow at the foot of the waterfall.Surprise

Thundering waterfall

Hidden in secret dell

Surprise for adventurers

Who leave the trail

This is my YT video of the waterfall at The Grotto

Picture caption: Waterfall at The Grotto. There are two waterfalls and this one is hidden away. I had to go off the trail to find it. The rest of my party didn’t cross the stream as it was swollen and swift flowing.

If you’d like to join in Spin the Bottle, you can use either of the photographs or the sound of the waterfall from the video. Or you can use your own picture for your abhanga.

Late summer

It’s not the beginning of anything here in South Africa. It is late summer, very hot and yet there are lots of flowers and blossoms.

This is my haiku and the related photograph:

Late summer blossom

Erases thoughts of autumn

Long may it linger

Picture caption: I drove down a road that was lined with these beautiful trees covered in dark pink blossoms.

Robbie’s Inspiration – my poem on Hotel by Masticadores

Thank you to Michelle from Hotel by Masticadores for sharing my poem, Are you there God?

“Are you there God?” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspirstion – My contribution to Dave Williams’ Joy Series #poetry #painting

Thank you to talented poet and author, Dave Williams, for including my poem and painting in his Joy series of posts. This is such a wonderful idea, Dave is amazing

Joy is painting by Robbie

Robbie’s Inspiration – Esther Chilton’s writing prompt: The Photograph #poetry

Esther Chilton’s writing prompt this week is photographs. I sweated for this poem, but when it came, it came fully formed. You can join in this prompt here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/01/29/writing-prompts-50/

The PhotographPicture caption: A photograph of me, aged 9 months, sitting on the deck of the passenger liner which brought us from the UK to South Africa.

What do you see

Looking at this photograph?

A little girl

Sitting on a wooden floor

Wearing a sunhat

And a quizzical expression

Just an ordinary little girl

What don’t you see

Looking at this photograph?

The recent, tragic death

Of a father – a bread winner

The bravery of a young mother

Seeking a new life

For herself and

Her baby daughter

Beneath the wooden deck

Of the passenger liner

On which the child sits

Are all their worldly possessions

Packed into wooden crates

And old-fashioned trunks

They are travelling far away

From family and friends

From their normal life

Over the ocean

Towards a different country

A southern African country

Hopefully, they will find

New opportunities

Away from memories

And a way to forge forward

Adapting to the strong sun

A different culture

Foreign languages

A completely different

‘Normal’ way of life

Not such an ordinary little girl

After all

This poem was inspired by an article by Edward about what is a normal life – you can read his article here: https://edwardortizblog.com/2025/01/27/i-just-want-a-normal-life/

I don’t think anything about my life has ever been ‘normal’.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Syllabic poetry Spin the Bottle week 4: Reverse Etheree and a birthday cake #poetry #cakeart

It has been an exciting week. Work is a madhouse currently so that has kept me juggling and Michael turned 19 on Thursday. He had a nice celebration at home yesterday with his friends. They swam and ate and ate. The cake was a success.

Picture caption: Hamburger cake for Michael’s 19 birthday.

Here is a video I made of this cake:

Picture caption: Cake with the lit candlesPicture caption: A photograph of me with Michael aged 9 months

This week, I selected a reverse etheree form for my poem:

Birthday celebration

Delicious chocolate and vanilla cake

Posing as a hamburger and chips

With blood-red tomato ketchup

Ideal for a summer’s day

Braaing around the pool

Making memories

Celebrating

Nineteen years

Special

Son

In South Africa, barbecuing is referred to as braaing.

This is what Colleen says about reverse etheree: https://tankatuesday.com/tanka-tuesday-poetry-cheat-sheet-for-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenges-2/#reverse-etheree

If you would like to join in, please write a reverse etheree using your own inspiration. you can use my cake or the concept of a special celebration for your poem if you want.

Happy Sunday.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Thursday Doors: Mori Art Gallery, Tokyo #ThursdayDoors #TokyoAdventure

TC worked on my second day in Tokyo so I had the day to myself. I turned it into an art adventure. In the morning I went to the Tokyo Modern Art Museum which I wrote about on Sunday. In the afternoon, I went to the Mori Art Gallery.

The exhibition was the work of Louise Bourgeois and this is what tate.org.uk says about her:

“With a career spanning eight decades from the 1930s until 2010, Louise Bourgeois is one of the great figures of modern and contemporary art. She is best known for her large-scale sculptures and installations that are inspired by her own memories and experiences.”

You can continue reading this article here: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/louise-bourgeois-2351/art-louise-bourgeois

These first artworks include doors in the museum:

Picture caption: Crouching spider sculpture with the door out of the gallery in the backgound.Picture caption: The crouching spider sculpture from the other side of the gallery and showing the entrance door.

The following two photographs are of paintings, both feature buildings with doors:

Picture caption: A stuffed red head with its tongue sticking out inside a steel mesh cage.Picture caption: a white chair inside an enclosure facing a small round hole (a bit reminiscent of a medieval prison). A few doors in this piece.Picture caption: A spider sculpture with the body a wire mesh cage with a collection of items inside. There is a door into the body. This was my favourite piece in the collection.

You can view other doors post for Thursday Doors on Dan’s blog here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/01/30/reverse-course/