Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Lifeoff and Margins #poetry #dVerse

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It seems quite amazing that I wrote these two poems early yesterday morning. So much has happened since then. My dad is in hospital and they have found a huge goitre (enlarged thyroid gland) which is pressing on parts of his brain and his lungs and heart. I will see how today unfolds as the doctor called me with some of the test results at 8pm last night. Anyhow, both of these poems are happy and uplifting.

Thank you to Dora for her ‘Diving into Margins’ prompt. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/14/diving-into-margins/

Margins

I taught my children

To colour outside the lines

To write in the margins

To push all the boundaries

I taught my children to dance

Instead of walk

To see the pictures in the clouds

To translate them into poems,

Stories and innovative ideas

I taught my children to live

***

De Jackson‘s quadrille prompt is Liftoff. You can see what other poets have written here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/13/quadrille-215-ready-for-liftoff/

Linen

I wrestle the sheets onto the washing line

Sweet smells of lavender fabric softener

Filling my nostrils

A mischievous zephyr gently lifts them

They billow into full, white sails

Shocking the cat

Whose enquiring nose

Has just breached the corner

She runs

I laugh

Picture caption: Bald Eagle – coloured pencil drawing by Robbie Cheadle. Based on a photograph by Wayne Barnes from Tofino Photography. You can find Wayne’s beautiful photographs here: https://tofinophotography.wordpress.com/
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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112 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Lifeoff and Margins #poetry #dVerse”

  4. I love hanging sheets on the line when it’s windy, the closest I’ll ever get to sailing!

    I always cringe when I hear adults telling children what colour or what to draw.
    Best wishes for your father

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  6. Yes they are uplifting and beautiful poems. Margins depict the right way to raise children. I am sorry about your dad. However, despite that an enlarged thyroid gland seems scary, according to what I’ve read it is very rarely cancerous and it can be fixed. I hope it all goes well.

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        1. Hi Thomas, it is unlikely there is cancer but another test is required. My dad has to see a specialist surgeon as his case is very complicated. He has been discharged on medication and will see the new doctor at a different teaching hospital next week. Thanks for your comment.

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  11. I’m so sorry to read about your father’s health, Robbie; I hope the test results are good.

    What a beautiful pencil drawing, and I enjoyed your uplifting poems. I agree that we should ‘colour outside the lines’, ‘write in the margins’, and dance instead of walk. Your ‘Linen’ poem is so evocative – I also love to smell lavender fabric softener when I wrestle sheets on the line!

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  12. I am so sorry to read about your dad, Robbie. I hope they will be able to treat him easily. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way!

    Delightful poems. I’m happy you encouraged your children to reach beyond the margins. 💙

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  17. I’m sorry to hear about your dad, and I hope he gets swift treatment at the hospital that fixes the problem. Your poem “Margin” is wonderful for the lessons you’ve passed along.

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  20. You taught your children to fly high in imagination and creativity, to “dance” and “color” outside margins, and push boundaries to live freely, something your beautiful bald eagle drawing exemplifies! What a gift, Robbie, as I’m discovering having just begun Sesi Says Goodbye to Granny. I loved your “Linen” poem too, the humor and imagery are full of joy.

    I’m praying for your Dad, Robbie, and you as you help him through this. Hope the test results are good.

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    1. Hi Dora, thank you for your appreciation of my poetry and my drawing. I like this flying eagle very much. I am delighted you are enjoying Sesi, it is my favourite of our children’s book to date. I posted my review of The Vampire of Kings Street to Goodreads and Amazon US (it usually takes a few days to show) today. I will post it to my blog next week. Have a lovely day, Dora.

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    1. Hi Teagan, I’m so pleased you enjoyed these poems. Push-Push was hilarious. I laughed and then felt quite guilty. Dad is home and the cats are thrilled. Poor little Smudgy wouldn’t eat while he was gone. He will see another doctor next week for a surgery plan.

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  25. I am so sorry to hear that your dad is dealing with such a big health issue. Hoping the tests come back with positive results. I love both poems. So full of descriptive phrasing and you are right, they are uplifting!

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    1. Hi Annette, thank you for your kindness. The doctors have done all the tests now and as my dad’s case is very complicated, he must see another specialist doctor in a teaching hospital. That will happen next week. In the meantime, he is home on medication.

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  31. Robbie, I will keep your father in my thoughts.
    I especially like the lessons for your children. We must let our children discover who they are, not who we want them to be. Wise words. (K)

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    1. Thank you, Kerfe. I have always tried to encourage them in their strengths (very different) and let them follow their own paths. I’ve had to fight hubby dearest on this as he had set ideas. I chose correctly and both are blossoming in their own unique ways.

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      1. Yes, my brothers and I suffered through our mother’s well-meaning but misdirected ideas of who we should be, and have let our own children find out for themselves–they have all grown into very different but interesting people.

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  36. I hope you get good news from the specialist about your Dad and he can get treatment quickly and feels better soon. I love both poems. The first one sounds very personal and the second I can almost see it and smell it.

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