In Touch with Nature – The Animal Performance, a song parody of Cabaret
Thanks for Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting this post.
It is my grand finale for Dan Antion’s TDWC26 which you can join here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, TDWC26, Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, CFFC, Bird of the Week, Sunday Stills and Thank you’s
Tanka Tuesday
Colleen’s challenge is to write a poem using homophones. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/05/19/first-sighting-tankatuesday-fun-with-homophones/
Gaining Wisdom (American cinquain)
learning
to wait, suss out
people and surroundings
assessment lends weight to future
choices
TDWC26 and Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge
This is the last week of Dan’s TDWC26. I’ve used a photograph by Yvette Prior. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
Esther’s challenge for this week is eyes. As the glass inlets in the doors reminded me of eyes, I put the two challenges together. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/05/20/writing-prompts-115/
I spy with my little eye …
something …
but what is it?
“A hartebeest,” says TC
“I disagree. It’s a common tsessebe.”
“A tess… a … what?“
“A tsessebe.”
“There’s no such creature!
Check on your phone.“
“Hmmm! AI says … it’s an elk.”
“What! You don’t get elk in South Africa.“
“I know that. Let me try a different picture.
“Now AI says its a mammal.”
“What kind of mammal?“
“AI doesn’t go into details. It’s just a mammal.”
“Useless AI. It’s having illusions.“
“Not really. A tsessebe is a mammal.”
The two sets of photographs below are of first a hartebeest and second a tsessebe. You can see how similar they look.
Bird of the Week
I took this photograph on Friday at Pilanesberg Game Reserve. TC and I were there for two days to celebrate his birthday which is tomorrow. It’s not the best of my photographs (TC was hogging my camera) but it was such a striking blue that I’m using it for this poem. It’s nice not having to work on a Friday in my new job. If I do have to work on a Friday, I get another day off at a later date so that is very nice for me.
You can join in Bird of the Week here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/indian-grey-hornbill-birds-of-the-week-invitation-clxix/
Malachite Kingfisher (freestyle poem)
Perching atop a reed
surveying its surrounds
Malachite kingfisher
Drops!
Splash!
Pops up with a struggling captive
small fish
grasped around its middle
Toss!
It flops
Into an open beak
Swallow!
Sunday Stills
Terri is showcasing babies this week for Sunday Stills. I just happened to have photographed a few babies at Pilanesberg this weekend.
You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/24/sunday-stills-always-be-my-baby/
Two pictures of an adorable zebra foal.
Photographs of a giraffe foal. It’s main and coat are still ginger, the colouring of newborn giraffes.
Photographs of young kudus. These are adolescents.
CFFC
Dan is showcasing signs. I rarely photograph signs but this one at the lodge gave me a giggle. You can join in CFFC here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/05/18/leftover-signs/
Thank you!
Thank you to wonderful poet and author, Freya Pickard, who shared a wonderful review of my book, Burning Butterflies. You can read Freya’s review here: https://purehaiku.wordpress.com/2026/05/22/burning-butterflies/
A huge thank you to Sally Cronin from Smorgasbord Blog Magazine for showcasing an extract from my poetry book: Burning Butterflies. You can read Sally’s lovely post here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2026/05/23/smorgasbord-book-promotions-2026-share-an-excerpt-boost-one-of-your-books-poetry-art-burning-butterflies-poetry-about-southern-african-flora-and-fauna-by-robbie-cheadle/
Roberta Writes – Reblog: Simple Pleasures: Reading and Eating – When Secrets Bloom by Patricia Furstenberg, a Review and a recipe for stuffed cabbage rolls
Roberta Writes – TDWC26, W3, and The Flower Hour
My poem for W3 (which is two days late) was inspired by two photographs from Dan’s TDWC26 as follows:
Alone (freestyle poem)
We walk alone
navigating our way
up hills, over obstacles, down slopes
Sometimes, we walk with another
a lover, friend, family member,
even a group
These periods of companionship
often bring great happiness
But, every life phase has an ending
Someone’s life must be shattered
Someone must suffer pain
Someone must be left behind
It’s best to acknowledge that ultimately
we walk our paths alone
You can join in Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
You can read other poet’s W3 contributions here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/05/13/w3-prompt-211-weave-written-weekly/
The Flower Hour
Three photographs of my late autumn garden for Terri’s The Flower Hour which you can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/19/the-flower-hour-31-local-lilacs-and-lupine/
Roberta Writes – d’Verse, TDWC26, Sunday Stills, The Flower Hour, and Thursday Doors
After six weeks of sabbatical, I am starting a new job on Monday. I’m glad I was able to see Paris over Easter and nurse my mother and Michael through the new Flu B. It is a reduced hours job so I’ll see how that goes. Wish me luck.
d’Verse, TDWC26, Sunday Stills, and The Flower Hour
Restless Jo provided a delightful photograph for Dan’s TDWC26. This yellow, blue and white house was the initial inspiration for my haibun below. You can join Dan’s challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
Punam from d’Verse provided some artworks as inspiration for her Poetics Tuesday: What art says challenge. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/05/12/poetics-tuesday-what-art-says/
Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge is pastels. My Primrose antique doll and the flowers in the background are pastels. The flowers are for Terri’s The Flower Hour challenge too.
You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/10/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-pink-and-pastels/
You can join in The Flower Hour here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/12/the-flower-hour-30-camellia-a-little-closer/
A Fresh Coat of Paint (haibun)
Primrose looked at her freshly painted home with satisfaction. Arthur had recently finished reading a first edition of Tom Sawyer. He’d been so inspired he’d volunteered to give her dolls house home a fresh look. It looked terrific. Its yellow, blue, and white walls sparkled under the bright display lights of the antique children’s books and toys room.
She glanced at the tapestry on the opposite wall. The dark yellow room was exquisitely sew with careful, even stitches. She liked the wall hanging and it helped to keep the room warm and snug. Museums were drafty. She was glad she had her delightful dolls house to live in and her home wasn’t merely a 2D dream.
rainbow dreams elude
bricks and mortar evidence
my reality
Click on the bar to view Primrose, an antique doll form Faversham in England, with a background of roses I received for Mothers Day last Sunday. A little past their prime but they are still pretty … and pastel. You will also see Arthur, a vintage doll from Graaf Reinet in South Africa.
Thursday Doors
These are a few more random photographs form my short trip to Paris over Easter.
The two images above are of the moving walkway in the Paris Airport (Charles de Gaulle). It was very long and there wasn’t another soul in sight. For me, it was a little creepy as it was my first time in this airport. I was glad to see the door at the end of the walkway coming into sight.
Roberta Writes – Famous Books and Authors – Anton Chekhov stories, key facts and a review
Roberta Writes – Book Blog Tour: The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder by Lindsey Martin- Bowen
Introduction
Today I’m delighted to welcome poet and author Lindsey Martin-Bowen to Roberta Writes. Lindsey is showcasing her latest book, The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder, a romantic comedy.
The Giveaway
We’re giving away three digital copies of The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder in a random giveaway.
Leave a comment to enter.
Opportunity for an entry at every stop.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 5/11 – “Inspirational backgrounds for The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder”
Post – Poetry by Mich: Hotel by Masticadores: Masticadores Phillipines:
Tues. 5/12 – “Phase Two – Sunny-Side Up” Reading – Roberta Writes:
Wed. 5/13 – “Charli’s Character” Post – Carla Loves to Read:
Thurs. 5/14 – “Phase Fourteen – Let Me Know the Way” Reading – Patty’s Worlds:
Fri. 5/15 – “About the Dark Horse (the black stallion with blue eyes)” Post – Writing to be Read
About The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder
Recently divorced Charli Erickson arrives in Boulder, Colorado during the 1970s—a wild time for that city—where she hopes to develop her “rock poet” talent and find the perfect mate. Instead, she links up with the imperfect Ched Lyons, a Boulder native who leads her in a multitude of adventures, including scaling a mountain and a 1,200-mile motorcycle ride to southeastern Utah. While she intermittently envisions a black stallion with blue eyes, who puzzles and enchants her, she also strives to make sense of its appearance.
Through Charli’s snarky humor recounting her tales, readers will enjoy this Rom-Com doubling as a woman’s adventure story and may relate to scenes from the wild, zany era that followed the serious, revolutionary 1960s.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/The-Dark-Horse-Waits-in-Boulder
Reading: Phase Two – Sunny-Side Up
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4 th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, TDWC26, The Flower Hour, and Thursday Doors
Last Sunday, TC and I went for a 5 kilometre walk at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead. The trees were all dressed in their autumn best and there were plenty of birds out and about enjoying the warm day. We came across a strange scene where a cat and a peahen were living together in a little domed shelter. There were water and food dishes so they are obviously fed by the residence of the surrounding houses.
I was immediately reminded of the nonsense poem by Edward Lear, ‘The Owl and the Pussy-Cat’. It was first published in 1870 in the American magazine Our Young Folks and again the following year in Lear’s own book Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets.
This poem is for Esther Chilton’s writing challenge which provides the word dish as the prompt. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/05/06/writing-prompts-114/
It is also for Dan’s Doors Writing Challenge which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
I’ve used Resa’s photograph for inspiration. You can find Resa’s art gowns blog here: https://artgowns.com/2026/03/22/growing-excitement/
The Peahen and the Grey Cat
The Peahen and the Grey Cat lived together
safe within the bird sanctuary’s fence.
They had a lovely home, in the shape of a dome,
there was no need for any defence.
The Peahen looked over her shoulder and said
“I’m so glad you’re my best friend
We have shelter and a comfortable bed
Here the rest of our lives we’ll spend
We’ll spend, we’ll spend
Here the rest of our lives we’ll spend
***
Grey Cat said to the Peahen, “I’m not a peacock
My modest looks verge on being quite dowdy
My tail doesn’t splay, and make a colourful display
And I’m certainly not at all exciting or rowdy
But if I commit to you, I promise I’ll be true,
We’ll can have an agreeable life together”
“Oh Grey Cat,” Peahen cried, “I can’t think of anything better
Than you and I being together forever
Forever
Forever
Than you and I being together forever
***
Just then, a man with a tray appeared
Filling the dishes with delicious treats
There was cream and berries, sardines and cherries
And even a variety of different meats
The two creatures tucked in, with a great big grins,
Dividing the spoils between them evenly
So easy as their tastes greatly varied
They knew they’d share their haven peacefully
Peacefully
Peacefully
They knew they’d share their haven peacefully
Click on the slideshow below to see the pictures of the grey cat and the peahen. Regrettably, I didn’t take a picture of their shared home.
The Flower Hour
I am posting some photographs from our walk for Terri’s The Flower Hour. These are local wildflowers that bloom in autumn.
Click on the slideshow to see the flowers.
Thursday Doors
Here a few doors from my recent trip to Paris for Dan’s Thursday Doors which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/05/07/carnegie-museum-doors/
This is an apartment building I spotted. I just liked it’s shape and design.
The next two photographs are of the Saint-Etienne-du-Mont Church in Paris.
Roberta Writes – TDWC26, Nothin’ but a hound dog
This is my second poem for Dan’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge. Today, I’ve used a photograph contributed by Maureen from https://oddments70.wordpress.com/2026/04/30/april-30-26-coping-but-barely/
You can join in TDWC26 here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
Nothin’ but a hound dog
young people
hypothetical cannon fodder
lead the charge
with artificial intelligence
rushing in
where angels fear to tread
experimenting
summarising
capturing ‘its’ version
of salient details
embellishing the written word
with the soul of the soulless
creating gutless art
purpose of essential organs
missed entirely
by the mindless digital mind
photographs enhanced
excluding the unnecessary
floating heads and hands
by accident not design
mistakes will be made
some doors will open
only to be firmly closed
In the end
progress will continue
some will grasp it firmly
using it to hoist themselves
further up the ladder
others will fall
lying broken and bleeding
at the feet of the demigod
On reflection
isn’t the digital revolution
just a rewrite
of Hound Dog?*
*Hound Dog by Elvis Presley is considered to be his most controversial song. It stands out from all his music, marking a pivotal, rebellious moment in rock ‘n roll history that changed music forever. Elvis Presley’s music was criticized by establishment figures, media commentators, and religious groups as being dangerous, vulgar, and lacking artistic merit. Many condemned his music as immoral and a catalyst for juvenile delinquency. Now, Elvis Presley is considered to have fundamentally changed music for the better by breaking racial barriers in radio and merging country, gospel, and blues into popular rock ‘n roll. He is said to have revolutionised the music industry by linking image and sexuality to sound, creating a youth-orientated culture, ad setting the stage for global rock stardom.
AI is controversial and many people are resistant to its implementation in its current form. I have some reservations about how AI will impact young people and the growth of their mental abilities. You have to exercise the brain if you want it to grow. The fate of the Eloi from HG Wells clever story The Time Machine always comes to mind for me when I think about how AI is currently being utilised. If you are interested in my thoughts on this book and the Eloi, you can read my review here: https://latinosenglishedition.blog/2026/04/30/the-time-machine-by-h-g-wells-by-robbie-cheadle/
AI is a topic of many blog posts. All of the posts I’ve read about AI have interested me deeply. Here are a few links to interesting posts about AI I’ve read recently:
Thomas Wikman from Super Facts – https://superfactful.com/2026/03/21/large-language-models-is-just-one-branch-of-artificial-intelligence/
Grant from Grant at Tame Your Book – https://tameyourbook.com/dont-confuse-ai-with-a-benign-tool/
Rebecca Budd from Rebecca’s Reading Room – https://rebeccasreadingroom.ca/2026/04/28/ai-and-humanity-reflections-from-a-modern-reading-room/
Laura Lyndhurst of Books That Make You Think – https://booksthatmakeyouthink2.co.uk/2023/12/13/prophet-of-old/
Audrey Driscoll of Audrey Driscoll’s blog – https://audreydriscoll.com/2026/04/26/is-this-the-end-of-the-golden-age-of-indie-publishing/
Meeks from acflory blog – https://acflory.wordpress.com/2026/05/01/i-hate-what-ai-is-i-love-what-it-could-be/
Progress shot – Mona Vervet acrylic painting
Meeks asked for a progress shot on my latest painting so here it is … Mona Vervet!
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