Thank you to Dwight Roth for being a wonderful guest. Thanks for hosting Kaye Lynne Booth.
Roberta Writes – d’Verse – poetics, W3, Bird of the week, and Thursday Doors
d’Verse, W3 & Bird of the week
I’ve put all three of these challenges together this week.
Dora’s d’Verse poetics challenge is something borrowed, something blue. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/06/02/poetics-something-borrowed-something-blue/
Deanna’s W3 challenge is to include a character from a nursery rhyme. You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/06/03/w3-prompt-214-weave-written-weekly/
You can join in the bird of the week challenge here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/06/02/tufted-duck-birds-of-the-week-invitation-clxxi/
I have written five syllabic poems, on for each component of Dora’s challenge. Each verse includes a character from a nursery rhyme as well as a bird.
Something Old (American cinquain)
hungry
white backed vulture
Old Mother Hubbard like
searching surrounding area
for bones
Below are two of my photographs of a white backed vulture taken in the Hluhluwe National Game Reserve in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
Something New (American cinquain)
loeries
propagators
of seeds; gardeners like
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
green birds
Something Borrowed (tanka)
greater honeyguide
lays its eggs in foreign nests
bold brood parasite
runs away like Knave of Hearts
but she bypasses capture
Something Blue (tanka)
flash of brilliance
Little Boy Blue look alike
European roller
favours warm, open country
at home in meadows and fields
Sixpence in Her Shoe (shadorma)
kingfisher
excavates tunnels
laying eggs
its treasure
better than a golden pear
or silver nutmeg
Thursday Doors
Today I’m sharing photographs of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. You can join in Thursday Doors here:
This is what Wikipedia says about the Arc de Triomphe: https://nofacilities.com/2026/06/04/iowa-doors-2/
The Arc de Triomphe, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. It is located at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle—formerly known as the Place de l’Étoile—named for the star-shaped configuration formed by the convergence of twelve radiating avenues. The monument is situated at the intersection of three arrondissements: the 16th (to the south and west), the 17th (to the north), and the 8th (to the east). Commissioned to honor those who fought and died for France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the Arc bears the names of French victories and generals engraved on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I, marked by an eternal flame commemorating unidentified fallen soldiers.
Roberta Writes – Smothered by B.T. Clearwater Book Blog Tour
The Giveaway
Leave a comment at each stop to let us know you were here and get an entry for a chance at one of three digitals copies to given away in a random drawing at the end of the tour.
About Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater
Annie Brown’s life could use some renovation. She’s in trouble at work, her ex-boyfriend is stalking her, and she’s just inherited a dilapidated Victorian home from her late mother, who hasn’t quite moved out yet. The last thing Annie needs in her life is a man, but when handyman Mike Tolbert comes to fix her dishwasher, she lets him demo her doubt.
Mike doesn’t need the distraction of a relationship either. An Iraq War combat veteran and divorcee, Mike suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is dealing with a manipulative ex. Yet, something about Annie snags his heart and he finds he cannot walk away from her.
Annie’s mother doesn’t approve of their relationship, and she’s willing to cross from the realm of death to that of the living to control her daughter. With the ghost of her mother
haunting them, Mike and Annie face his PTSD, her troubles at work, and a deadly plot to steal her childhood home, all while fighting to keep their love alive.
Excerpt Reading: “Mike’s Flashback” (Chap. 11)
In this excerpt, from Chapter 11, Mike, who is dealing with P.T.S.D., has a flashback to a time when they were under fire and his friend was killed.
About B.T. Clearwater
B.T. Clearwater grew up writing stories, winning Literary Student of the Year for Lake George Central High School in 1984. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Western State Colorado University, graduating both Summa Cum Laude, and is a two-time alum of the Superstars Writing Seminars run by Kevin J. Anderson. B.T. routinely judges the Zebulon writing contest for Pike’s Peak Writers, and has published fiction under the science fiction, fantasy, romance, western, horror, and crime genres under different pen names. B.T. Clearwater lives in Colorado Springs with a dog, a cat, and a cast of fictional characters for company.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 6/1: Writing to be Read – Reading: Annie’s Opening Scene (Chap. 1)
Tues. 6/2: Roberta Writes – Reading: Mike’s Flashback (Chap. 11)
Wed. 6/3: Undawnted – Interview
Thurs. 6/4: Writing to be Read – Reading: A Ghostly Appearance by Mother Mary (Chap. 10)
Fri. 6/5: Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, and Masticadores Phillipines – Reading: Annie and Jason (Chap. 5)
Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday and The Flower Hour
Tanka Tuesday
Melissa’s challenge is to write a haiku or micro poem that is a little edgy or off beat. I’m not sure mine fit the criteria of edgy but here they are.
You can join Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/05/26/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-66-exploring-haiku-5-26-26/
three giraffes
exchanging news at
The Salt Lick
***
ginger calf
walks with confidence
tail flicking
***
eager mom
awkwardly bending
to reach treat
The Flower Hour
These photographs of South African autumn / early winter flowers are for Terri’s The Flower Hour. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/26/the-flower-hour-32-going-to-the-dog-woods/
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Roberta Writes – Reblog: Photography – Jackpot: Boats and Ships
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.
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