Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 2

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3 #bloodmoon #photography #poetry

Tanka Tuesday

Melissa has provided a fun prompt revolving around looking through a window. You can read the detail and join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/09/02/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-28-tanka-and-renga-09-02-25/

Flying with the birds (tanka)

beyond the window

freedom of birds enticing

bum on seat, mind soars

taking on bird persona

delighting in soft, white clouds

W3

Sadje invites participants to write a poem — in any form they prefer — centered on imagery. You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/09/03/w3-prompt-175-weave-written-weekly/

Yellow Iris

pale lemon

frock of delicate

handmade lace

frilled and flounced

perfectly attired iris

ready for spring ball

My yellow iris photographs:

Blood Moon

vibrant red

lighting up night sky

bleeding out

into dark

reminding indifferent man

nature rules supreme

A few blood moon photographs:

“Collateral Damage” by Robbie Cheadle

Thank you to Barbara from Masticadores USA for sharing my poem.

Who or whatis to blamefor employeedisillusionment?For silent withdrawalchronic disengagementloss of faithNot the corporate –…

“Collateral Damage” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Southern Masked Weaver, What do you see? and CFFC #poetry #photography

The piece below is for The Bird of the Week post hosted by Don’t Hold Your Breath blog here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/09/02/large-niltava-birds-of-the-week-invitation-cxxxi

Southern Masked Weaver Bird (tanka prose)

The Southern Masked Weaver is a resident breeding bird species common throughout southern Africa. This bird is found in a wide range of habitats from shrubland, to wetlands, to semi-desert areas. They also enjoy my garden and I currently have three male birds in residency. The adult male in his breeding plumage is a gorgeous and bright yellow. I love watching these determined and artistic birds building their complicated nests. Last year, we had a first year juvenile male and it was fascinating watching him build nest after nest, and seeing how they visible improved significantly from one attempt to the next. This year, all three birds, William, Werner, and Wynand, are fairly competent buildings but the fussy females have not yet accepted any of the nests. These birds are nicknamed ‘nature’s skilled architects’.

Nature’s architects

builders of intricate nests

unusual design

shaped like an upside-down flask

woven using feet and beak

Picture caption: this is my first spring photograph 2025 of a Southern Masked Weaver building a nest. This was taken with my new ProMax iphone 18.1.Picture caption: Southern Masked Weaver building a nest in my back gardenPicture caption: Another bird building sessionWhat do you see?

The following poem is for this photograph provided by Sadje for her What do you see? challenge. You can join in here: https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2025/09/01/what-do-you-see-304-1st-september-2025/

Picture caption: a hand holding a small glass ball against a sunset backgroundThe Bubble

within the confines

of her protective bubble

She observes the world

with little understanding

thinks the starving should eat cake

This poem is a play on the statement Marie Antoinette is purported to have made after being told that the French peasants were starving. The phrase, ‘let them eat cake’ is now synonymous with someone of privilege who is completely out of touch with the needs of others, largely those who are less privileged.

CFFC

Dan’s CFFC challenge this week is night. Last week it was twilight which I missed. I’ve included both challenges in this post. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/09/01/time-of-day-night-cffc/

Picture caption: Muddy buffalo at twilight. This photograph won a merit award in a photography challenge.Picture caption: silhouette of a giraffe at twilightPicture caption: silhouette of a tree at twilight in the bush. Picture caption: London (Westminster Bridge) at night including the London EyePicture caption: I think this is Waterloo Bridge but let me know if I am wrong as I’m not sure.Picture caption: Big Ben all lit up at nightPicture caption: trees lit with pink lights near the London Eye.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Esther Chilton’s writing challenge and Sunday Stills #poetry #photography

Esther Chilton’s writing prompt this week is Strike. I missed last week’s prompt which was Window. This piece is for both prompts. You can join in the current prompt here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/08/27/writing-prompts-80/

Looking in (shadorma prose)

I never remember my mother striking any of her children physically. There was only the one time when my two youngest sisters fought so long and hard over their woodland family animals and accessories, that mom jumped on one of the houses in a fit of anger. That was the end of the fighting and of the house.

My mother had a different way of disciplining her children. I was generally the receiver of the discipline as I was usually the ring leader of naughtiness like climbing up on top of the hen house and scaring all the chickens. The scaring was accidental as my mission was to scale the flat topped building and have a picnic up there, not to send the hens into fits.

When angered, Mom would lock me outside the house and I would be left to wander around our plot in disgrace. Usually, being outside was where I wanted to be, but being outside on your own was different from being outside with three live dolls to play with. I would wander around peering in the large windows and watching my three sisters having what appeared to be a wonderful time without me.

I particularly recall one afternoon, when my sisters had an indoor tea party with scones, raspberry jam, and tea served in Mom’s blue and yellow teacups. They didn’t save a single scone for me.

all alone

wandering garden

punishment

enough, Mom

no need to give sisters scones

with my favourite jam

Sunday Stills – Construction

Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge is constructions. I have a lot of pictures of cranes. Don’t ask why – I just find cranes very interesting.

You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2025/08/31/sunday-stills-under-construction-the-beauty-of-building-and-art/

Picture caption: B&W photograph of a crane in London at SouthwarkPicture caption: Two cranes peeking above the trees at Southwark BridgePicture caption: Road repairs at Southwark BridgePicture caption: Construction in BrusselsPicture caption: There is lots of construction in this picture, but it was the really tall ladder that interested me. This is in Brussels.Picture caption: Construction in BrusselsPicture caption: Construction in Grand Place in Brussels in preparation for a music concert.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 27, Personification, 08/26/25

Robbie invites everyone to write syllabic poetry using personification, providing an example poem about an iris. Participants are encouraged to …

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 27, Personification, 08/26/25

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and Sunday Stills #poetry #photography

Yvette’s challenge is to write a tanka poem with words that have multiple meanings.

You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/08/19/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-26-multiple-meanings-08-19-25/

The Present

present with a bow

containing my greatest desire

two airplane tickets

visit to Victoria Falls

hubby dearest takes a bow

Sunday Stills

Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge is autumn trees. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2025/08/24/sunday-stills-all-the-trees-of-the-field/

These photographs are from the Imperial Palace Gardens in Japan in late autumn.

This tree is in my garden. I like this picture because it shows three seasons: summer, spring and autumn

Picture caption: read and yellow autumn leaves in the sunshine

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Joy Neal Kidney and a review #poetry #TreasuringPoetry #poetrycommunity

Today, I am delighted to introduce Joy Neal Kidney, poet and writer of historical memoirs. What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku,…

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Joy Neal Kidney and a review #poetry #TreasuringPoetry #poetrycommunity

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

Firstly, some exciting news. On Photocrowd, a photography social media that includes a number of photography challenges, I’ve moved up from a beginner photographer to the intermediate category. I only joined in early April so I’m pleased.

Colleen’s prompt for Tanka Tuesday is to write a tanka from a first person point of view. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/08/12/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-25-8-12-25-tanka-experimental-tanka/

Michael and I collaborated (for the first time) to write this tanka Puente.

The End in Sight

on the brink of change

bright eyes viewing the future

my son and his friends

graduation imminent

transition to adulthood

– If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right –

anxiety rises

deep despair spreads like fire

fear of failure sparks

disappointing those you love

mother’s nagging tongue lashes

The first verse is mine and the second verse is Michael’s.

The quote is by Henry Ford.

Picture caption: Michael and his partner for his Matric Dance (prom)Picture caption: This is TC, me, Mike’s partner and Mike at the Matric Dance parents function. W3

Violet’s prompt is to choose a word from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows and make it the title of your poem. Your poem should either use the word directly or capture the essence of its meaning. Include a direct link to the word’s page so readers can explore its definition and origin. Write in any poetic form you wish.

Wildred

Bayonets fixed

guns at the forward

the lanky guards

block access

“Stay away,”

their branches rustle

“You’re unwelcome here.

This is our sanctuary”

Soft scuffling

black backed jackel

slinks out of the corpse

defensive trees

standing at ease

to allow his passage

In the bright sunlight

haloed with gold

the creature halts

smirks in our direction

“This is our realm.

Enter at your peril.”

Picture caption: this is the black backed jackal which inspired the above poem.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Jaws by Peter Benchley and Fish Paella #fiction #readingcommunity #cooking

My review of Jaws I watched the Stephen Spielberg movie when I was twelve years old and I never forgot it. Like most of my generation, Jaws, the …

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Jaws by Peter Benchley and Fish Paella #fiction #readingcommunity #cooking

Robbie’s Inspiration – Sunflower Tanka: Dreams, submissions open, Reena’s Xploration Challenge and CFFC #poetry #photography #SunflowerTankaDreams

Sunflower Tanka Dreams Submissions Open now

Submissions for Sunflower Tanka Dreams are open from 9 August to 9 September 2025. You will find all the details and guidelines on Colleen’s blog here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/08/09/submissions-are-open-for-the-2025-sunflower-tanka-anthology/

Reena’s Xploration Challenge

Reena’s challenge for this week is to write a poem inspired by the following wording:

She kept the clock running backward, just to see which regrets would return first.

For me, this fitted nicely into the dreams theme so I’m using this poem as a demo for the Sunflower Tanka Dreams anthology and for Reena’s Xploration Challenge which you can join here: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2025/08/07/reenas-xploration-challenge-393/

Mellowing of Dreams (rensaku)

hindsight’s clarity

pierces childhood memories

unravelling joys

and long days of happiness

dreams of youth revisited

***

young girl’s ambitions

white wedding among flowers

stripped right to bare bone

goals achievement considered

dreams of youth revisited

***

senior school learner

individuality

suppressed to conform

with pack ideas of coolness

dreams of youth revisited

***

young professional

climbing the corporate ladder

harshest lesson learned

be careful what you wish for

dreams of youth revisited

***

middle age entered

edges mellowed by losses

contentment new goal

value of health understood

dreams of youth revisited

CFFC

Dan’s CFFC challenge is afternoon. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/08/11/time-of-day-afternoon-cffc/ The following pictures are afternoon scenes that could also translate as the fulfilment of a dream or the objective of a dream. Perhaps one of them will inspire you with dreams related poetry.

Picture caption: Houseboat on a canal in AmsterdamPicture caption: Elephant in a South African private game reserve. Picture caption: house facing the white cliffs near Friston Forest in the UK (near to Brighton and the forest home of Winnie the Pooh)Picture caption: small cruise boat on the canal in Bruges, BelgiumPicture caption: My son, Greg, on his graduation day from University with a degree in mathematics and computer sciencePicture caption: English Heritage notice specifying that a famous author lived here.Picture caption: small cruise boat on the Thames in front of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in LondonPicture caption: I’ve shared this photograph before but its my favourite of my wedding photographs