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.