Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 18

Robbie’s Inspiration – repost: Story Empire article on first words

First words: famous first lines #readingcommunity #storyempire

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: An Encounter with Norwegian Trolls #poetry #folklore

Thank you to Barbara Leonhard from MasticadoresUSA for publishing my garland cinquain.

“An Encounter with Norwegian Trolls: A Garland Cinquain“ by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – I’m going on a safari

See you all next week!

Robbie’s Inspiration – Esther Chilton’s writing prompt: Transport #childhoodmemories #haibun

Picture caption: Car lights from Unsplash

I remember sitting on the hard, cement curb, watching as the sun slowly started to sink below the horizon. The boy sitting next to me was shrouded in shadows, his features becoming less distinct in the growing twilight.

There were no signs of Dad’s car.

It was close to 6pm and I’d been waiting since school finished at 2pm. Dad had a tendency to get wrapped up in his work and forget about me waiting on the curb outside the empty school.

My heavy school bag lay on the ground next to me. An open book lay spine upwards on top of it. I’d been reading until Davin had cycled passed and decided to stop and keep me company. I was grateful for his presence. I’d shown him my drawings in the loose sand, created using a slim branch from a tree. Now, the pictures had been swallowed by dark shadows.

Finally, twin lights came into view, bright and enticing in the near night. Dad had remembered and come at last. I jumped up, picking up my bag and book while thanking Davin for waiting with me.

We headed towards home, some distance away for the next three months. Home to Mom. Home to my three younger siblings. Home to dinner.

Lonely afternoons

Sitting on hard, cement curb

Will he remember?

Written for Esther Chilton’s writing prompt: Transport.

You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/08/21/writing-prompts-28/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: MasticadoresUSA’s Best of the Net Nominations 2025

I am delighted and honoured to have my poem, She Lives and Yet She’s Dead included in the MasticadoresUSA’s Best of the Net Nominations 2025.

Thank you to editor, Barbara Harris Leonhard, for your unwavering and dedicated support to all creatives.

MasticadoresUSA’s Best of the Net Nominations 2025!!

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3 No. 123, Lilac breasted roller #poetry #SouthAfricanbirds

Tanka Tuesday

You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/08/20/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-47-8-20-24-part-i-fading-heat-august-23-september-6-shosho-%e5%a6%e6%9a/

Vain Duck (shadorma)

Raucous duck

Loudly announces

His presence

“Admire me

“Look at my splendid profile”

He calls with vigour

Picture caption: Close up of a duck on a stumpPicture caption: Egyptian Duck on a stumpW3 #121Selma’s prompt guidelinesTheme: The beauty and perpetuity of the natural world that surrounds you;Think about the simplicity of a blade of grass or a flower petal, of how every detail IS a life of its own;Form: Any form;Length: No longer than 400 words, but not too short;If you write haiku or any of the short syllabic forms, please make it a long series where we can feel your surroundings.

You can join in W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/08/21/w3-prompt-121-weave-written-weekly/

Bird of the Sun

I am monogamous

and highly territorial

Engaging in spectacular

courtship flight: I fly high

before quickly diving

rocking my wings and calling

loudly and abrasively

I perch high on a dead tree

surveying the area for prey

and feeding on insects,

amphibians, and small reptiles

I’m notorious for lingering

around burned farmlands

on the look out for arthropods

and small invertebrates

fleeing from burning undergrowth

An acrobat, I can take prey ‘on the wing’

Hunting and eating in the air

Very beautiful, with my teal breast

and lilac throat, I also have long,

black outermost tail streamers

My large head has an olive crown

My unique colours make me

unmistakable in the bush

In African culture

I am considered the bird of peace

A historical sacrifice by kings

declaring peace in their land

Also known as ‘the bird of the sun’

I helped maintain harmony

between ancient communities

I am a lilac breasted roller

Picture caption: my watercolour painting of a lilac breasted roller

This is a video I found of a pair of lilac breasted rollers in the bush:

Picture caption: My photograph of a lilac breasted roller

Robbie’s Inspiration – Repost, Treasuring Poetry: Meet author and poet, Elizabeth Gauffreau and a book review

Today I am delighted to feature talented poet and author, Elizabeth Gauffreau, as my Treasuring Poetry guest. Liz is discussing poetry and her favourite poem. I have also reviewed her latest book, Simple Pleasures. thanks for hosting Kaye Lynne Booth.

Treasuring Poetry: Meet author and poet, Elizabeth Gauffreau and a book review #poetrycommunity #bookreview #TreasuringPoetry

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3j No.120 #poetry

August Winds (gogyohka)

Aging brings constant pain

Old Man Winter lies abed

Irritable and disgruntled

Complaining long and loud

In blustery, tempestuous tones

August Chaos (shadorma)

June year ends

Creating havoc

Abundance

Of queries

Problems that must be resolved

In a short timeframe

Micro poem

No sunflowers here

As we barrel into spring

Plenty of blossoms

W3 #120Val’s prompt guidelinesTheme: The struggle of good versus evil;either internally or externally;either personally or within the universe;either from experience or observation;Form: Garland Kimo (see below for explanation)Kimo?

The ‘Kimo’ is a short syllabic poetic form of three lines. The syllable count per line is 10/7/6.

Also, the kimo is focused on a single frozen image (kind of like a snapshot). So it’s uncommon to have any movement happening in kimo poems.

Garland Kimo?

The ‘Garland Kimo’ is a series of four ‘Kimo’ verses, in which the fourth Kimo verse is composed of lines taken from the previous three Kimo verses, using the 1st line from the 1st Kimo, the 2nd line from the 2nd Kimo, and the 3rd (last) line from the 3rd Kimo.

No Escape

Is there no escape from dictatorships?

All lands already plundered

Nothing left for youth

***

No welcoming committee anywhere

The world groaning with people

Additions unwelcome

***

Individuals all trained consumer

Homes packed with new possessions

All nooks and crannies filled

***

There is no escape from dictatorships

The world groaning with people

All nooks and crannies filled

Note – I didn’t do this exactly as instructed. I Robbiefied it for my own ends. Do you see the twist?

You can join in W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/08/14/w3-prompt-120-weave-written-weekly/

Spring is springing, Folks!

Picture caption: Plum blossom todayPicture caption: Plum blossom on WednesdayPicture caption: Loerie bird watching that I water his plum trees – haha!

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Baby Girl on the Beach, a poem #poetry

Thank you to Michelle from Hotel by Masticadores for publishing my poem, Baby Girl on the Beach.

“Baby Girl On The Beach” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Growing Bookworms, YA Fiction

This month I am discussing Young Adult fiction for my Growing Bookworms post. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth

Growing Bookworms – Young Adult Fiction #YAfiction #GrowingBookworms