Roberta Writes – d’Verse – poetics, W3, Bird of the week, and Thursday Doors

#d'Verse, Bird of the Week, photography, poetry, Thursday Doors, Uncategorized, W3 2 Minutes

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

Picture caption: My photograph of a grey loerie in a tree. This is one of my garden residents.

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

Picture caption: My photograph of a European roller in the Hluhluwe National Game Reserve. Can you say Hluhluwe?

Sixpence in Her Shoe (shadorma)

kingfisher

excavates tunnels

laying eggs

its treasure

better than a golden pear

or silver nutmeg

Picture caption: My photograph of a kingfisher in the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa.

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.

Picture Caption: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Unknown's avatar

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

125 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse – poetics, W3, Bird of the week, and Thursday Doors”

      1. 😁. Totally. At the moment I am watching hundreds of Painted Lady butterflies migrating from Africa to Europe. Every flowering bush is covered with them. 🦋

        Like

        Reply

      1. Thanks for this new piece of information. I’d thought its food is mainly protein and fats. About its diet, ebird says “Carrion and bone fragments of larger carcasses, mainly soft muscle and organ tissue. Usually gregarious, feeding and fighting amid a hectic scrummage to obtain flesh, even thrusting the long bare neck under the skin or crawling into the rib cage. May also come down to small dead animals and afterbirth” I recalled a video I’d taken of vultures (including the white-backed) feeding at an elephant’s carcass which shows this behaviour: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/failing-light-vultures-delight/

        Like

        Reply

  4. I love the inclusion of nursery rhymes in your poems. Very clever. I included the Art d’Triumph and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Amanda in France. Great photos. xo

    Like

    Reply

  10. I enjoyed your poems, Robbie. I’m amazed at how you can get so many good bird photos. Birds are so shy. As soon as I start to lift the camera, they fly off. We have a tomb of the unknown soldier in the US, too. Maybe many countries do.

    Like

    Reply

  14. Such a lovely and creative post. Love the varying forms of poetry … the subject is birds 🐦‍⬛. Beautiful capture of the birds , I love the blue ! I visited the Arc de Triomphe years ago , it’s good to see it again, so beautiful. Thank you Robbie. A day brightener.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. I love the way you so adeptly blended nursery rhyme characters into nature- what a great concept! The arch just makes me recall that Trump is building one to honor himself and disgracing out national mall with his tacky gilded presence…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. It’s been 15 years since I saw the Arc de Triomphe.

    Clever use of the nursery rhymes. Fun fact: one of my teachers in high school was named Mrs. Hubbard. I recall enjoying her marine biology and zoology classes.

    Like

    Reply

  21. Those are beautiful nature poems. I believe I read them before but I don’t remember where, but I could be mistaken. We’ve visited Arc de Triomphe a few times, last time in 2025. My wife has a sister who lives in France. It is a very interesting place.

    Like

    Reply

  27. Robbie, I was ready to comment on the W3 poem but there was so much more to enjoy! By the time I’d finished I’d forgotten what what I wanted to say!! The was a delight – and the cinquain worked perfectly!

    Like

    Reply

  29. Wow, Robbie, what beautifully skilled writing! It is not an easy task to combine nursery rhymes with syllabic poetry. I love what you’ve done with them all… “Old Mother Hubbard…searching for bones.” Brava!

    Beautiful photo gallery. I love your feature photo…a superb perspective of the Arc de Triomphe, and your photos of the birds…stunning. Great work, well done, share.

    Like

    Reply

  31. You ran away with this prompt, Robbie, or should I say … flew away! You charmed with each one of the poems, giving that old Victorian rhyme an airing it sorely needed. Loved discovering these birds through your lens and through your witty words, especially the kingfisher, just when “sixpence in her shoe” may have defeated a less knowledgeable poet/ornithologist! So much beauty in nature. I feel I have been spoiled on this Sunday afternoon bird-watching with you. 🙂🙏🏽🩵🩵🩵

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Dora, thank you for this wonderful prompt. These poems took a bit of time to write but it was a fun exercise. Interestingly. The suspense in her shoe was the one that triggered the birds idea. This was a great week of prompts. Happy Monday 💚

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  34. A brilliant post, Robbie, thank you!

    I love the way you broke the old saying into 5 poems. Well done!

    The Arc de Triomphe shots are fab.

    OMG – the European roller is sublime. WoW!

    Like

    Reply

  35. I just want to say National Game Reserve rather than pronouncing Hluhluwe if I’m correct.🤭

    Love the blue bird, and interesting entry for tanka, poems, and Thursday doors, Robbie

    Like

    Reply

  40. I love how you matched nursery rhyme characters with real birds and their special habits in five different poems, Robbie. 🐦 Your wonderful photos help bring each bird to life and make the whole collection even more fun to read. 📸

    ~David

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment