Roberta Writes – W3 Prompt #66: Wea’ve Written Weekly and Sunday Stills: Small things

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Sunday Stills

Terri’s challenge for this week is small things. Some of my small things are relative (hehe!). You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/07/16/sunday-stills-lets-get-small/

I can’t remember the name of this owl but it is quite small as owls go. It is native to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
I have tried hard to find out what sort of caterpillar this is, but with no success to date. It is also native to KwaZulu-Natal
A baby rhino, no tiny, but small
Tiny elephants – I took these photographs from a distance because they’d only been in the park for one week and were still being habitated.

Wonderland by Robbie Cheadle

No boundaries individual wants to contort

If the Caterpillar* threatens sexual expression

No reality that versions of truth can distort

Everything goes, no need for discretion

***

If the Caterpillar threatens sexual expression

Gentle erosion will change its phallic shape

Everything goes no need for discretion

No need for suppression, there’ll be an escape

***

My world a version of Alice’s wonderland

Gentle erosion will change its phallic shape

No need for suppression, there’ll be an escape

Every action condoned, no substance banned

***

My world a version of Alice’s wonderland

No reality that versions of truth can distort

Every action condoned, no substance banned

No boundaries individual wants to contort

* The Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland asks questions that help Alice develop her own identity. In this poem, The Caterpillar is an oxymoron as the development of personal identity, unchecked by boundaries and rules and regulations, has eroded truth and reality, turning the world into a wonderland.

David from Skeptic’s Kaddish together with Melissa Lemay gave the writing of a pantoum as this week’s W3 Poetry Prompt. I wasn’t going to participate because it sounded like a lot of effort. It was a lot of effort but I had an idea and David flattered me (haha!) so I had to show him I could do it.

You can find the guidelines and the prompt here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/08/02/w3-prompt-66-weave-written-weekly/

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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80 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – W3 Prompt #66: Wea’ve Written Weekly and Sunday Stills: Small things”

    1. Hi Merril, I was exploring the crossing over of ideas presented by of the woke generation in the context of sexual predator court cases where the people have escaped prosecution for pedaphilia. The lack of boundaries in areas of sexual interest increased by drug taking and the related lawlessness.

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      1. Oh . . .
        Well, I guess I’m “woke” (I hate that term), but I think sexual predators of any kind, but especially those who prey on minors are horrible. There are lots of them not on drugs. I haven’t studied recent court cases, but of course, all sexual crimes are under reported.

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        1. Hi David, I have two blogs, Robbie’s Inspiration and Roberta Writes. Robbie’s Inspiration is for children’s books, art and often poetry. Roberta Writes is for my adult writing, reviews of classic books and some of my own more intense poetry. I should have all the poetry on Robbie’s Inspiration but I don’t. That’s me, not very good with my blog boundaries – grin!

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  6. You skillfully weave themes of freedom and transformation, Roberta. I live how the pantoum’s repeated lines create a mesmerizing rhythm. It drew me into the imaginative world of Alice’s Wonderland. The clever use of “caterpillar” as a metaphor adds depth to your poem. Your wordplay is engaging, adding intrigue and reflection on the boundaries and limitations we face in our own lives. A delightful and thought-provoking piece indeed!
    Congratulations!

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    1. HI Patricia, I am so pleased you were able to unravel the themes involved in this poem. I thought of this after I wrote a poem on Monday that involved the Cheshire Cat. Lewis Carrol had so much going on with that book in the context of social statements.

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  8. Maybe it’s a puss caterpillar if they have them there. (If so, run. They sting!) There is a sophisticated analogy in this poetry, Robbie. It took me a couple of read-throughs to get it. I’m glad you went ahead and took on the challenge.

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  9. I really like pantoums, Robbie. I find them difficult to write, so good for you for pulling it off. Great photos and video too. It’s lovely to see all those animals living safely for everyone to enjoy. That caterpillar isn’t like anything I’ve seen before. What a strange-looking creature!

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  18. I very much enjoyed the video with the slow moving elefants, Roberta, but most of all I love your words about thecaterpillar and that boundaries and rules unchecked erode truth and reality! Many thank Roberta for your thoughts🤣

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  26. Nm, see I made another mistake! Your final stanza was correct the way it was. Some places say to have the first and third lines of first stanza as the second and fourth of last stanza, in that order. Some flip it around, having the first line of the first stanza as the fourth line of the last stanza instead.🤯 I enjoy taking lots of liberties with my writing and forms.

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  27. Oh hah I don’t think the first comment I wrote you this morning ever posted.🤯 And it was rather long. Anyway, ignore the other comment, or delete it.🙃

    I unfortunately cannot remember my entire comment. I said that I made a mistake in the ordering of lines in my pantoum and had to fix it. They can be difficult to write!

    I like the explanation you give for a little deeper meaning into yours. I do understand the use of substances involved in abuse, as I suffered abuse that happened when the person was under the influence of alcohol. I wonder if it would have happened otherwise.

    I also really love the line “No reality that versions of truth can distort”

    I despise when people tell you that your “version” of the truth is yours. Sometimes, your version of the truth is exactly that, and people try to bend it or gaslight you in order to have you align with their delusions. It’s frightening.

    I’m glad you joined in and hope you’ll give the pantoum another shot sometime.🙏🏼❤️

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  30. You did wonderfully! In my comment (that didn’t go through) I made it a point that I wasn’t giving negative criticism. I read the W3 prompt post in the reader I think initially, and some of the post got cut off. I do see his instructions. I have come across breakdowns of the form online where different ordering of lines is followed for the final stanza. I’d love to research more.
    Look at this one for instance, I’m still trying to figure it all out.🤯 https://poets.org/poem/parents-pantoum
    Anyway, I like yours a lot. I hope I didn’t come across as otherwise.❤️🙏🏼

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  31. WOW! First of all, LOVE the photos and videos. ❤️ Elephants are probably my favorite animal (or they tie with cats), and love watching them interact with their babies. Rhinos are also cute, especially babies, and I love that you’re getting to see these guys in their natural habitat. And Alice in Wonderland is among my short list of lifetime favorites, so the poem where you incorporated the caterpillar was especially amazing! It was genius, actually, though it looked very difficult to pull off, but you did it perfectly. ❤️❤️

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