Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Poetics Tuesday: Path of Fire and Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, tests #poetry

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Punam’s challenge for Poetics Tuesday is: For today’s poetics challenge, I would like you to write a poem about any pivotal moment in your life that left you with gnawing regrets or you could cover the entire gamut from anger to forgiveness and reconciliation. In short, you will be writing about a krisis in your personal life. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/05/27/poetics-tuesday-regrets-and-more/

Punam’s challenge fit nicely with Esther Chilton’s writing prompt of test so I’ve created one poem for both challenges. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/05/28/writing-prompts-67/

Path of Fire

Quiet, reserved, and introspective

as a young girl; always absorbed

in a book or three; easy to please

Who knew I’d have to walk

a path of fire. In the beginning

I asked myself why me?

Have I done something wrong?

Why am I being constantly tested?

Was I Hitler in a previous life?

Did I miss my calling in life?

Was I supposed to be a doctor?

The coals burned – creating scars

on the bottoms of my bare feet

My heart bled, splintering each time

into a thousand pieces

I learned about hypospadias,

Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans,

brittle asthma, superbugs,

biofilms, pulmonary embolisms,

and venal sinal thrombosis

Each time I sat in a hospital

I saw other patients –

people with family members

whose prognosis was poor:

babies with cystic fibrosis

toddlers with leukemia

teenagers with chronic epilepsy

young victims of car accidents

mothers with ovarian cancer

fathers with brain embolisms

elderly people who’ve lost much:

their speech, mobility, even their minds

Slowly, as time passed; I learned

to accept the unstoppable flow of life

in all its natural unpredictability

The scars on my feet healed

forming tougher, protective layers

to carry me through periods of pain

My heart reformed, learned to release

my dependencies on others

and love in the moment

My brain relaxed its need

to plan relentlessly for the future

and to live in the present

My life path has taught me gratitude,

acceptance, and positivity

By not fighting the river of life

I have found peace

and an ability to live

without regrets and remorse

Photography

Those of you who follow my Facebook know I’ve been entering a number of photography challenges recently. I like them as I’m learning a lot from viewing the entries and winning pictures. There are thousands of photographs entered for each competition. I have achieved several Merit awards for photographs and this week I managed to achieve four Commended’s which are one up from Merit’s. I am pleased and these are the four Commended pictures:

Picture caption: The Marico River in NorthWest
Picture caption: The White Umfolozi River in KwaZulu Natal
Picture caption: The Sand River in Mpumalanga
Picture caption: River at Monk’s Cowl in the Drakensberg Mountains
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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79 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Poetics Tuesday: Path of Fire and Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, tests #poetry”

  6. Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition of your photography. From what I know about you through your writing I would confidently say that you were not Hitler in your previous life — not even close! ❤

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  16. An inspirational poem indeed.

    Well done with the photographs. I used to have a go at competitions when we first joined camera club and my husband became a judge for inter club competitions. Some members entered BIG competitions. I know how many excellent photographers there are around and how competitive it is!

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  18. I adore your poem Robbie and love how the “questioning” and “whys” were carried with ease and grace throughout the poem.

    P.S.

    That “Hitler” question made laugh.🤭

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  20. Sometimes life burdens some people with too much and yet they manage to soldier on. This poem is a celebration of your spirit, Robbie. ❤️

    Congratulations on being commended for some great shots.

    P.S. I added your post to Mr. Linky.

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  23. I really enjoyed this poem Robbie, Hitler questioning and all… Your photos have great composition with their sinuous rivers at centre – well deserved commendations!

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  24. What a powerful poem, Robbie. Full of fear and hardship that transforms into unbelievable strength. I was totally moved. I love how you write when you go deep.

    And congrats on the photo “Merits” and “Commended.” You are so multi-talented!

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  27. Congrats on the Commended achievements for your photos! And your poem is powerful. There’s a great wisdom in there of experiencing pain, then growing thicker protection and growing gratitude. Finding peacefulness is a wonderful thing 🌞

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  29. Robbie, I think this is the best poem you have written, because it encompasses your life and eludes to everyone’s life. That is powerful. Well done! Congratulations on your photography awards, they are well deserved.

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  31. Robbie, your line “The coals burned – creating scars / on the bottoms of my bare feet” feels especially vivid to me, as if I can almost feel that raw pain beneath the surface. It seems to me that your poem’s quiet resilience in facing relentless trials carries a powerful honesty that lingers beyond the words…!

    Much love,

    David

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    1. Hi David, thank you for your comment. This poem is really a summary of how my mind has evolved along my life’s path. It still isn’t easy. Anxiety and worry raise their heads and I have to observe them and send them on their way.

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