Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, The Flower Hour, and Sunday Stills

photography, poetry, Sunday Stills, Tanka Tuesday, The Flower Hour 2 Minutes

Tanka Tuesday

Yvette’s Tanka Tuesday challenge is Tread with Trepidation. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/08/18/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-78-tread-with-trepidation-8-18-26/

This is what the muse brought!

Walking on Egg Shells (American cinquain chain)

I try

to understand

how thought processes work

when they differ so much from mine

I fail

***

My mind

can’t unravel

reluctance to face change

accept and adapt to its flow

move on

***

So I

speak with caution

couch words in cotton wool

walk on proverbial eggshells

slow down

Sunday Stills

Terri has been having a scary time with the wild fires. You can read her story here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/08/16/sunday-stills-tears-and-smoke-gets-in-your-eyes/

We haven’t had wildfires in Johanneburg but I have had scary experiences with wildfires during my lifetime so Terri’s story is close to my heart. I didn’t think I had any photographs to contribute for this topic but then I remembered a couple of photographs I took when we travelled out of Joburg early in the morning a few week ago. The sky was full of pollution from the winter fires people light to keep warm. The pollution in Joburg has become so bad we are planning to retire to the coast. I’m worried about the health effects as we all suffer with coughs, burning eyes and other air pollution nasties.

Picture of a dull gold disc rising above a red, smoke filled sky.
Picture of a dull gold disc rising above a red, smoke filled sky.
A more distant picture of the dull golden disc of the sun rising into a red, smoke filled sky. you can see the traffic on the road.
A more distant picture of the dull golden disc of the sun rising into a red, smoke filled sky. you can see the traffic on the road.

I had a crazy week and ended up working until 9pm on Thursday which through my week off. I also had to take Dad to the hospital for lung functioning tests. The doctor says there is no deterioration but he’s turned into an old man and is shuffling around using a walking stick. No-one seems to have an answer for his problems. I think its long Covid.

The Flower Hour

These are the blossoms in my spring garden. I didn’t do the alphabet challenge. You can join in The Flower Hour here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/08/18/the-flower-hour-44-floral-abcs-focusing-on-the-letters-m-n-o/

Picture caption: Yellow Banks Roses – I love these
Picture caption: Jasmine buds and blooms. They smell delightful.
Picture caption: White plum blossom against a blue sky
Picture caption: I like this photograph of a single spray of white plum blossom against a blue sky

Reminder: Sunflower Tanka Anthology submissions are open until 31 August

Picture caption: Beautiful yellow sunflowers

Submissions to the Sunflower Tanka syllabic poetry anthology are open until Monday, 31 August.

Colleen and I look forward to reading your submissions. I am starting to work on the anthology tomorrow.

You can read more here: https://sunflowertankaanthology.com/2026/08/12/submissions-are-still-open/

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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44 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, The Flower Hour, and Sunday Stills”

  2. I know those eggshells! Treacherous. I popped over to meet Yvette (it’s a fairly uncommon name and I wanted to be sure it wasn’t Mrs. Prior) Air pollution must be very distressing. We sometimes have Sahara sand and it’s not pleasant but that from the fires looks serious. Thank heavens for blossom xx

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  3. Some people have difficult personalities. Your poem, walking on eggshells, capture the feeling well. Terrible about the wildfires in Terri’s post. Here in north Texas we have high wildfire risk due to unusually dry and hot conditions. I remember when I visited northern Sweden in 2018 for my dad’s funeral. It had been the hottest July in history in Sweden and it was unusually dry and there were a record amount of wildfires. It was a disaaster and very strange for a region that is essentially the arctic.

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    1. Hi Thomas, your observation about Sweden is exactly what’s happening with global warming. I think it isn’t happening the way scientists expected because of polar vortex shifts and similar changes. Yes, most people are difficult as far as I’m concerned. They don’t like to recognise imperfection or to change.

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      1. Yes you are right Robbie. It seems like one degree Celsius on average isn’t much but the issue isn’t one degree Celsius but what comes with it, all the changes to weather patterns, changes to humidity (both up and down), droughts, the jet stream, eco zones, eco systems, etc. A lot of it the scientists predicted but not all of it. Civilization emerged during an unusually stable climate but that may be over.

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  5. Terri’s wildfire pictures are scary. Your blossom pictures are healing images.

    I submitted to the Sunflower Tanka anthology this year! It was a challenge for me because I am not confident in my tanka poems, but it was fun nonetheless.

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  6. It’s stressful to have to walk on egg shells, Robbie. I’ve been in situations like that. I hope your work situation lightens up, and I’m sorry about your father. I know some people have horrible trouble from long covid.

    The sun photos are scary-beautiful. We have had some days of bad air pollution from wildfires, but it’s not constant.

    The flowers are very beautiful.

    Good luck with the anthology!

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  9. The air is getting worse everywhere. If you can find a place that’s clearer, it will be better for your entire family. I am sorry about your father. Old age does seem to come on suddenly sometimes.
    And such a poignant poem. We have all become afraid of each other. (K)

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  17. I’m familiar with that walking-on-eggshells feeling. It’s awful. My son-in-law was working a wildfire in the park where he works. Air tankers got it under control before it spread outside of the 170-acre canyon. I’m sorry about your dad, but I know you’re taking good care of him.

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  18. beautiful captures, Robbie…

    the pollution is a definite health hazard – and we can only hope it gets better over time , though it sounds like wishful thinking.

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  19. I despised the haters at work back in the day, who couldn’t shift focus to see other perspectives, Robbie. I feel your pain, and that you had to work extra hours to deal with it. My heart goes out to your dad’s condition. 😦 Long Covid is not a far-fetched idea. Our blogger friend, Cee Neuner, had a terrible covid experience on top of ill health and passed away too young dealing with the effects of Long Covid. Push those doctors to have a closer look! I’m praying for your Dad and your family.

    Beautiful flowers to brighten our days, too! Thanks for sharing a bit of early spring as we head into early autumn!

    Thank you for the extra shout-out for the smoky skies of Spokane, Washington. Our fires are out but a few more small ones popped up in other parts of the state. Your utterly smoky pictures are scary, Robbie! That is a LOT of smoke and pollution to deal with. Looks like almost hazardous air quality, or as I like to say “Mars.” Smoke doesn’t bother me much, but my neighbor wore a mask for weeks while tending her 5 acres of trees and plants.

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    1. Hi Terri, everything you have said here makes sense and is true. Long COVID is very real and terrible. My dad has already had a lot of test by four specialists. I don’t think there is a lot more that can be done. I didn’t know Cee had this illness too ❤️‍🩹

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  20. Walking on eggshells is such a yucky feeling. I hope we don’t have to do it often. The flowers are beautiful. I hope your dad gets better… sending healing thoughts and prayers.

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  21. Moving to the coast to escape pollution sounds like a good plan. I remember when hubby’s company hired a woman from China, and she was shocked at seeing blue skies here in America. Your flowers are beautiful! I hope your dad’s health improves.

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