Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 25

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book review, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023 by Dawn Pisturino #poetry #poetrycommunity

What Amazon says

Ariel’s Song is a collection of intensely personal poems written between 1987 and 2023 that features various styles and themes, from twisted limericks that make you laugh to traditional sonnets that make you think and feel the world around you. There is something for everyone to enjoy: dark poems, love poems, nature poems, funny poems, poems about death and grief, poems about abuse and heartache, children’s poems, and experimental poems.

My review

Ariel’s Song is a wonderful collection of poems written by Dawn Pisturino’s over a thirty-decade period. The themes and styles of the poems is wildly varied, and its body collectively represents the plethora of passions and interests of the poet. This passion comes across strongly in each and every poem, Dawn Pisturino most certainly has a well-defined personal voice that is easily recognisable in every poem in the collection. Many of the poems have been previously published in various poetry anthologies, publications, and literary blogs.

There is an interesting and thought-provoking thread of religious belief woven through many of these poems which I found intriguing. One such poem which I really loved is Nature’s Child. This is a short extract of this poem:

“Her nakedness gleamed in moonlight and candlelight,
Sunlight and lamplight,
But she feared not the shadows of or the darkness of night.
They called her a witch, priestess, sorceress of the Devil.
She laughed at their ignorance –
These holy men of the Church –
And covered her nakedness with rose petals and fern.”

Another poem that has remained with me is My Grave. These are the introductory lines:

“I think that I shall never crave
A home as lovely as a grave.
A restful place deep in the ground
Without a trace of light or sound.
A grassy mound high on a hill,
Host to yellow daffodil.”

I found the first line very intriguing, given the peaceful and appealing nature of the rest of the poem.

I recommend this collection to all lovers of passionate and inspiring poetry.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Ariels-Song-Published-Poems-1987-ebook/dp/B0CWP2MLPZ

About Dawn Pisturino

Dawn Pisturino is a retired nurse in Arizona whose international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies, most recently in Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and the 2023 Arizona Literary Magazine. She is a Mystery Writers of America, Arizona Authors Association, and PEN America member. Her first poetry book, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023, debuted to positive reviews.

Find Dawn’s latest post on her blog here: https://dawnpisturino.wordpress.com/2024/06/03/impermanence-on-chewers-masticadores/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday seasonal poetry #poetry #TankaTuesday

I missed last week’s Tanka Tuesday because I was travelling. It is difficult for me to answer comments and keep up with blogging when abroad especially as I have to run after TC long legs all the time (I also surreptitiously stop for photograph opportunities and have to run twice as fast to catch up with the back of his head before he notices – tee hee!) He walked 100,000 steps which means I walked close to 200,000 in five days.

Anyhow, the point of the above was to say I have two weeks of poems to share. The first is about Joburg autumn and the second lot are about European late spring.

You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/05/28/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-36-5-28-24-part-ii-fine-weather-may-20-june-5-shoman-%e5%b0%8f%e6%ba24/

Tinted hair (Haibun)

Magnificent, its leaves vivid red, the deciduous tree draws the eye. It’s evergreen companions, Melanie’s compared to the vivacious Scarlett, belle of the ball, are drab in last season’s dusty green. Beauty is a brief and transient quality, wars have been fought over Venuses. Over time, their hair greys and their skin wrinkles. Just as the red leaves will fall, be raked into piles, and taken to the bonfire.

“I like your hairstyle”

Said evergreen to oak tree

“The red tint suits you.”

Picture caption: oak tree with red leaves interspersed with yellowCactus warriors (shadorma)

Fat, red spears

Glitter in sunshine

Readying

To battle

With approaching winter’s cold

Fight for survival

Northern Hemisphere Robbiefied kimo poems

Canal water ripples gently downstream

Sun paints a central streak of light

Runs and flows into surrounds

***

Slipping and sliding, water flows downstream

Ripples race peers under bridges

From one to seven they sprint

Picture caption: Seven bridges over a single canal in Amsterdam. I just love the light on the water.

Remember to look up when you’re touring

Warm sun catches golden circles

Reminder of times long past

Picture caption: Intertwining circles in solid gold on top of an ancient buildingPicture caption: The gold intertwining circles are on top of the building that once served as the Dutch East India Company head office. Now it is an ordinary office building.

These kimo poems are Robbiefied because they include movement. David says a kimo poem should not include movement. But rules are made to be broken – smile!

Robbie’s Inspiration – repost, Hotel shares my review of White Whale by Frank Prem #poetry #bookreview

Thank you to Michelle of Hotel for sharing my review.

Review of White Whale by Frank Prem

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Stop Press – Robbie Cheadle #bookpromotion #poetry

Hi everyone, the lovely Freya Pickard has shared a wonderful promo post for my new poetry book, Square Peg in a Round Hole. Thank you, Freya. Freya is a wonderful poet and writer of fantasy so do take a look around while you are visiting her blog.

I am travelling to Norway later today so this will be my last post until my return next week. I’ve closed comments here and I will respond to comment on Freya’s blog as soon as I am able too. It is an 11 hour flight to Amsterdam and then another 2 hours to Oslo. I hope ‘The Scream’ by Edvard Munch is worth it – grin!

STOP PRESS – Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book review: The Bastard Princess by G. Lawrence

What Amazon says

February, 1603. In Richmond Palace, London, the last Queen of the Tudor dynasty, Elizabeth I, is dying. As Death hovers at her elbow, waiting for her to obey his call, the aged Queen looks back on her life, and on the trials, victories and sorrows which brought her eventually, to the throne of England. Not quite three years old when her mother, the notorious Anne Boleyn, was arrested and executed on charges of adultery and treason, Elizabeth became a true princess of the Tudor era, in a time when the balance of power, politics and passion were fragile… and the cost of failure was death. Her childhood and teenage years were fraught with danger as competing factions and ideologies sought to undermine and destroy her in the bid for power at the Tudor court. This is the story of Elizabeth Tudor, last daughter of Henry VIII, and her journey to the throne of England. Told from her own mouth… the tale of the Bastard Princess, who would, one day, become England’s greatest Queen. Book One, in the Elizabeth of England Chronicle by G. Lawrence, The Bastard Princess.

My review

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

I have never read a book about the life of Elizabeth 1st although I have read a few about Henry VIII and his six wives. I do know a fair bit of the history of Elizabeth’s rule but this first book in the series was about Elizabeth’s childhood and teenage years, and much of the information shared was new to me.

The author did a good job of relaying the conflict and confusion of life for Elizabeth as a child of one of Henry’s queens who disappointed by not producing a male heir. Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn, was disgraced and beheaded, and Elizabeth was pronounced a bastard. Despite Henry’s despotic and selfish behaviour, Elizabeth is described as having loved him and her younger brother, Edward, who was brought up with her until he became king at the age of nine years old.

Elizabeth must have been a clever woman and so the depictions of her as calm, scholarly and clever, rang quite true to me. I was not aware of her close relationship with Katherine Parr or of her unfortunate relationship with Thomas Seymour. I must admit to being rather shocked by Thomas’ attempted seduction of Elizabeth under the nose of his wife, Katherine, and his behaviour post his wife’s death.

I fact checked this information and found it to be factually sound which was gratifying. Factual accuracy in historical novels is important to me.

An enjoyable and detailed account of Elizabeth’s early life and a book well worth reading for people with an interest in the Tudors.

Purchase The Bastard Princess from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Bastard-Princess-Elizabeth-England-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00XNQTRNE

Find G. Lawrence’s Amazon Author Profile here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/G.-Lawrence/author/B00YGM615Q

Robbie’s Inspiration – Tanka Tuesday and W3 Prompt 107 #poetry

Tanka Tuesday

I missed Colleen’s challenge last Sunday so I am sharing last weeks poems and this weeks poems. You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/05/14/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-34-5-14-24-part-ii-the-beginning-of-summer-may-5-19-rikka-%E7%AB%8B%E5%A4%8F/

Micro poem 1

Preparations for

long, colder winter evenings

Fires provide comfort

Micro poem 2

Lots of wood kindling

Assists clumsy fire making

Gets the blaze going

We’ve had our wood delivery. The weather continues to be very warm during the day so we have yet to turn on any heating or light any fires.

Picture caption: our wood pile with the bags of kindling on topKimo

Kimo is an Israeli version of the haiku. A poem of three lines with 10/7/6 syllables.

Broad goblin-like smile with uneven teeth

Look from which nightmares are made

No lingering beauty

Picture caption: Seed pod (and yes, I did turn this picture onto its side)Micro poem 3

Cactus tree in bloom

Orange and yellow flowers

Like burning torches

Picture caption: the yellow and orange flowers on our cactus tree. They look like little flaming torches to me. W3 #107II. Sadje’s prompt guidelinesCompose a poem on the theme of ‘Hope’.

There is too much hopelessness in the world today, so I want us all to write about ‘Hope’. The length and form are up to you. Remember to make your poem hopeful and not hopeless!

You can find Sadje’s winning poem here: https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2024/05/09/gratitude-for-the-opportunity-w3-106/

You can join in W3 107 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/05/15/w3-prompt-107-weave-written-weekly/

New Hope (tanka)

In the round bellies

Of all expectant creatures

New life develops

Innocence of newborns gives

Hope for a better future

Picture caption: a mommy vervet monkey. Can you see the baby clinging to her underside?Picture caption: Two small elephants.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Treasuring Poetry – Michael Cheadle talks about poetry and a review

This month for Treasuring Poetry, I interviewed my son, Michael, who has nine poems included in Square Peg in a Round Hole, a collection of my art, poetry & other creative undertakings. Michael has shared an interesting poem and song. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Treasuring Poetry – Michael Cheadle talks about poetry and a review

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book reviews: You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie and The Rat In The Python: Book 1 The Home

You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie by Darlene ForsterWhat Amazon says

A collection of short stories inspired by growing up on a prairie farm in the fifties and sixties. Some of the stories are humorous and others sad, but all heartfelt. Stories about family life, cowboy wisdom, immigrant grandmothers, an inspiring teacher, and the arrival of a new sibling are part of this collection of tales from another time and another place. Proof that you can take the girl from the prairie but you can’t take the prairie from the girl.

My review

This book is not a traditional story but rather a collection of memories of the author’s childhood growing up on a prairie farm during the 1960s and 1970s. It was, in some ways, reminiscent of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder which depicted a pioneer childhood. The author aptly depicts that hard life of a farmer and a farmer’s wife and their complete dependency on the natural environment for success. Droughts, floods and other natural disasters impacted heavily on the financial health of the family. Even in this modern age, this dependency has not changed. The author’s siblings are details as well as the tragic and early death of one of her brothers. That story was one of the hardest for me to read. There are also stories of happiness and triumphs including a wonderful teacher who made a big difference to the author’s life. The one feature of this book that stood out for me was how kind and helpful people were towards each other despite their hard lives and limited financial resources. The author was very loved by her family members and this comes through strongly in each memory.

This book will engage readers who have an interest in real life history from the perspective of ordinary people.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Take-Girl-Prairie-ebook/dp/B0C399MHZP

The Rat In The Python: Book 1 The Home by Alex CraigieWhat Amazon says

If you haven’t heard of a liberty bodice, believe that half-a-crown is something to do with impoverished royalty and never had the experience of slapping a television to stop the grainy black and white picture from rolling, then this series might not be for you. Please give it a go, though – I suspect that most of it will still resonate no matter where you were brought up!

The Rat in the Python is about Baby Boomers who, in the stability following the Second World War, formed a statistical bulge in the population python. It is a personal snapshot of a time that is as mystifying to my children as the Jurassic Era – and just as unrecognisable.

My intention is to nudge some long-forgotten memories to the surface, test your own recollections and provide information and statistics to put it all in context.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then I’ll begin…

My review

The short book is a forage into what life was like growing up in post war Britain (1950s). It is non fiction and the information is shared through discussions about a number of household articles. As my own mother was a young child during the war and a teenager during the 1950s, I was eager to learn how life changed after the war. It certainly took a long time for changes to filter through. Part of this was due to the enormous loans from the USA that Britain had and which needed to be repaid. Another reason for change happening slowly was the frugal re-use mindset of people post the war. Not that I think frugality isn’t better than today’s throw away society, but life remained very hard for people for a long time. The cold was difficult with limited heating. The descriptions in this book were similar to my mother’s memories of freezing cold mornings with ice inside the window panes. Patterns created by ‘Jack Frost’ and suffering with chilblains. The author’s comments about her mother getting up early to light a fire to heat the living area was also reminiscent of my mother’s life.

One of the big changes from the war era was the home decoration. People did loosen up and start making changes, using items like linoleum and wall paper although the do it yourself culture remained. The extreme caution around the use of electricity and the father keeping a watchful eye on the metre was fascinating. I am used to my own wasteful generation although my sisters and I, the daughters of a ‘war generation’ woman, were brought up to be frugal. It is easy to forget this when everything seems so easily available in vast quantities.

The rite of doing laundry when the author was young was similar to during my mother’s childhood. Although a washing machine replaced metal tubs, women still used dollies and mangles as part of the washing routine. Filling up the washing machine was as bad as filling up tubs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who are interested in learning more about how people lived during the 1950s and 60s. The information about the use of arsenic in green paint was new to me and very surprising. This book will have you appreciating you comfortable life with all its modern conveniences.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Rat-Python-Book-Home-ebook/dp/B0C66JXRLK

“To a Lion: A Contemporary Poem” by Robbie Cheadle

Thank you to Barbara Leonard for sharing my poem, To a Lion, on Masticadores USA.

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers

Large, graceful, King of the Beasts Oh Tau, how you inspire respect and fear (1) Do not view me with suspicion I am a champion of the natural world A…

“To a Lion: A Contemporary Poem” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Repost: Story Empire, What fiction writers can learn from reading and writing poetry part 1

This week on Story Empire I shared my first post about the benefits of writing poetry for authors. I have shared some famous examples of poems in novels that really strengthen the story line and writing.

what fiction writers can learn from reading and writing poetry part 1