Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Tanka Tuesday, Sunday Stills and Thursday Doors

d’Verse

Laura’s prompt is for poets to write a Cadralor. I’m not sure if I got it quite right but I had a go at it below. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/10/15/mtb-imagism-in-5/

Bird Love (American cinquain chain)

yellow

fluttering wings

hovering around nests

seeking positive attention

weaver

***

lilac

breasted roller

amazing acrobat

attired in dramatic colour

palette

Picture caption: Lilac-breasted roller in the Kruger National Park

***

sitting

silhouetted

against vivid blue sky

yellow billed toucan surveys its

surrounds

Picture caption: Yellow billed toucan in the Kruger National Park

***

blending

into background

pair of spotted thick knees

prominent yellow eyes darting

around

Picture caption: Spotted thick knee at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead

***

watching

courtship rituals

birds soaring and swooping

my heart yearns for perceived freedom

of wings

Tanka Tuesday

Melissa’s challenge is to write an Alouette. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/10/13/tankatuesday-no-86-alouette-10-13-26/

Woolly-necked stork

black skullcap adorns

wig-style woolly neck

atop black judicial suit

reminiscent of

criminal court judge

handing down a death sentence

***

slow, silent hunters

shy and secretive

living alone or in pairs

round water sources

in arid areas

occasionally soaring

Below are my two photographs of a woolly-necked stork

Sunday Stills and Thursday Doors

Hugh is hosting Sunday Stills on behalf of Terri here: https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2026/10/11/sunday-stills-photo-challenge-steps-stairs/

Dan is hosting Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/10/15/october-doors/

My photographs are of Chateau du Chambord in the Loire Valley in France.

Picture caption: Photograph of Chateau de Chambord

Exit into the lavish gardens at Chateau de Chambord

The Double Helix Staircase

The double helix staircase is believed to have been designed by Leonard da Vinci and is the most striking architectural featuring of the Chateau de Chambord. Positioned in the centre of the immense square-shaped keep, the celebrated staircase comprises of two sets of staircases twisting one above the other to get to the main floors of the building. When two people climb the stairs at the same time, they can see each other at intervals but will never meet. The stairs were intended to be used by each of the King’s wife and his mistresses.

The two pictures below are my photograph of the staircase as drawn by an artist and my photograph of the staircase from my visit to Chambord.