Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, d’Verse, CFFC & Thursday Doors, The Flower Hour & Sunday Stills

Today, I’m participating in six challenges. I think that is a record for me. Between the new job, my parents and their medical and other needs, and my painting, I run out of time every single week. I do write three articles a week for LatinosUSA and two a month for Writing to be Read and those are of my own crafting, so I don’t feel to bad about not posting personal blog posts as often. There are only so many hours in a week. I have also been experimenting with cakes for my parent’s wedding anniversary celebration next week. My new firm closes on 15 December. I am very excited as I think I’ll be able to create a gingerbread house this year. I need about a week pre-Christmas to do that.

Anyhow, on with this week’s poems and photographs. PS, I am having trouble with WP which is flipping all my portrait photographs landscape if I use a slideshow or gallery format. Is anyone else having this problem?

Tanka Tuesday

Yvette asked poet’s to write about heritage. Sometimes I feel as if our modern society is sadly lacking is respect for elders and manners. The muse brought this poem which is an American cinquain. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/09/15/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-82-celebrating-heritage-9-15-26/

Inheritance

often

I tell my sons

‘manners maketh the man’

keep your social inheritence

intact

d’Verse

Kim’s beautiful challenge is Adagio for Strings. I had a tough week trying to solve some complex accounting problems. The muse was stubborn and only brought this when I listened to the beautiful music Kim provided for inspiration. Bad muse!

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/09/15/poetics-adagio-for-strings/

Thank you for the music but …

music rises

like flames

licking at the edges

of my tired mind

trying

to strike a spark

that could smoulder

burst into flame

fanned by the winds

of enthusiastic

consumption

but

I’m too tired

the spark splutters

then dies

I just can’t

ride the waves

tonight

The Flower Hour & Sunday Stills

Terri’s Sunday Still’s challenge is orange, you can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/09/13/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-orange-you-glad-its-apricot/

Terri’s The Flower Hour challenge can be found here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/09/08/the-flower-hour-47-can-you-ever-get-enough-sunflowers/

Our clivias put on a magnificent show this year.

A single clivia with the sun shining on its front blossoms
Picture caption: Two clivia with the sun creating dappled patters on some blossoms
A single clivia in full sunshine
Picture caption: Lion Scream – a protest cake that was based on The Scream painting by Edvard Munch. The burning volcano in the background and the river of blood represent the Sixth Mass Extinction that is currently underway. This one is manmade and not a circumstance of nature …

CFFC & Thursday Doors

These two challenges, hosted by Dan Antion, just went together this week.

Dan has a new Rascal book out so you can read all about it while you are visiting here: http://nofacilities.com/2026/09/17/rascals-research-begins/

Dan’s CFFC theme is where/when/how we shop. I decided to take you on a shopping tour of a few places in Brussels, Bruges, Bath, and Borough Market, UK (but not shopped at as I don’t like shopping). You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/09/14/where-what-when-we-shop-cffc/

Bruges and Brussels

Amsterdam


A street lined with shops in Amsterdam
A street lined with shops in Amsterdam

The window of an art gallery in Amsterdam. I took the picture because I liked the artwork.
The window of an art gallery in Amsterdam. I took the picture because I liked the artwork.
Entrance of the van Gogh Museum shop in Amsterdam. I like how van Gogh's self portrait is displayed on the door.
Entrance of the van Gogh Museum shop in Amsterdam. I like how van Gogh’s self portrait is displayed on the door.

Bath, UK

People queueing in Bath to go into Sally Lunn's bakery
People queueing in Bath to go into Sally Lunn’s bakery

Borough Market, London

People shopping at Borough Market
People shopping at Borough Market

I took this photograph as I walked into Borough Market
I took this photograph as I walked into Borough Market

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