Author: robertawrites235681907
I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry
Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Haibun Monday & Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge
d’Verse: Monday Haibun
Frank’s haibun challenge is to write about silence. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/04/27/haibun-monday-4-27-26-silence/
I’ll Take It – haibun
I cherish the near silence of the early mornings, suffering the rasping cough of the kettle just long enough to make a welcome cup of tea. Outside the window, a garden bird twitters and the hadedas screech their ode to the dawn. In a world that worships noise, my love of silence is just another characteristic that differentiates me from my family and colleagues. I’ll take it.
office hum
enhanced by white noise
my ears ring
Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge
Esther’s challenge word for this week is Mobile. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/04/22/writing-prompts-112/
What a Feeling – haibun
When I was a girl, children had a lot more freedom than they do now. My little sister, Cath, and I used to go out and about on our own. We both had bicycles so we had the option of riding or we walked, depending on where we were going. When I was in Grade 3 at primary school, roller skates came into fashion. The roller skates then took the form of a boot with four wheels on the bottom. The wheels were spaced out more like the wheels on a vehicle and were attached to a chassis-styled frame on the bottom of the boot, unlike the modern roller skates which are more like ice skates with wheels.
Cath and I both received a pair of roller skates for Christmas that year and I spent the rest of the December / January school holiday learning how to skate. I soon go the hang of swinging my legs correctly to enable forward motion and quickly learned to add arm movement to go faster. I learned to do spins and turns and how to skate backwards. It was an obsession for me and I spent hours practicing. As time passed, I started creating dances on skates to music. I’d set my small cassette recorder up on my bedroom windowsill and practice skating to my favourite soundtracks. The theme song to Flashdance was the track I liked the best and remember practicing my skating dance over and over to that song on repeat. Thankfully, Dad was out working during the day when I practiced so he didn’t complain about the endless refrain of ‘What a feeling’.
Skate dancing to Flashdance is one of my best memories and it was this process of mastering motion on roller skates that taught me I could learn to do anything if I set my mind to it.
freedom in movement
flowing like a waterfall
my spirit flying
CFFC – Something that took you higher
You can join in Dan’s CFFC challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/04/27/view-from-something-that-took-you-higher-cffc/
Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Tanka Tuesday, Thursday Doors, CFFC, and The Flower Hour
d’Verse, a quadrille
Punam’s d’Verse challenge is to write a quadrille about digging. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/04/20/quadrille-246-lets-get-digging/
Digging for Victory
World War Two
Opportunity for women
To demonstrate their worth
Operating heavy machinery
Working as blacksmiths,
welders, pipefitters, and masons
Driving trucks and ambulances
Serving in the navy and air force
Growing crops and caring for animals
Land Girls, digging their way to victory
Tanka Tuesday
Yvette’s challenge is to write a syllabic poem about sisterly love. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/04/21/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-61-sisterly-love-04-21-26/
I’ve written a rensaku poem.
Poor Dad
poor Dad, five females
all talking and giggling
sharing is caring
usually at the same time
high pitched chatter
***
all eager to please
baking challenges galore
father chief taster
but, he mustn’t put on weight
poor Dad, five females
***
phone always ringing
chittering and chattering
boyfriends and girlfriends
parties and socials
poor Dad, five females
***
clothes on the floor
wet knickers and pantihose
hanging in bathroom
makeup stains on the carpet
poor Dad, five females
***
sick in hospital
poor Dad, five females
visit, plump up his pillows
bring sweets, crisps, and fizzy drinks
drive nurses crazy
Thursday Doors, CFFC – View From a Bridge, The Flower Hour
For Thursday Doors, I am continuing the virtual tour of Chateau de Chenonceau in Loire Valley France. The photographs are from inside the Chateau. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/04/23/the-carnegie-carnegie/
For View From a Bridge, I am sharing some pictures of the River Cher from the bridge that forms part of Chateau de Chenonceau. You can join in CFFC here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/04/20/view-from-a-bridge-or-elevated-walkway-cffc/
I am sharing more flowers from the garden for Terri’s The Flower Hour which you can join here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/04/21/the-flower-hour-27-daffodils-celebrate-earth-day/
Interior doors inside Chateau de Chenonceau
Interesting household articles
The slideshow below includes two photographs of the River Cher. The first is from the bridge and the second is from a bedroom inside the chateau.
These are some more amazing flowers from the garden. I loved the shaggy purple tulips.
Roberta Writes – In Touch with Nature: The Magnificent Male Leopard
Roberta Writes – Reblog: Day 1 of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour – Cindy Georgakas and Kevin Morris
Thank you to Michelle Ayon Navajas for hosting Day 1 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons book blog tour.
Roberta Writes – W3, Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, Thursday Doors, The Flower Hour
W3 and Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge
Sally’s W3 challenge is to give a nod to another poet. I have based the rhythm and format of my poem on I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth. You can join in W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/04/15/w3-prompt-207-weave-written-weekly/
Esther’s word of the week is flower/s. You can join in her challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/04/15/writing-prompts-111/
This poem is another contribution to my Paris Diaries Poems.
Chateau de Chenonceau (Loire Valley, France)
A survivor of the French Revolution
Five-arched bridge its saving grace
Not sacked; it survived dissolution
Ladies chateau of flowers and lace
Due to it’s owner’s quick actions
It’s now a major tourist attraction
***
Famous for its facade of white stone
And spectacular gardens with terraces
Diana de Poitiers lived there alone
The first of its female heiresses
She planted flowerbeds, vegetables
And an orchard before the entrance
***
King Henry II favoured his mistress
Causing resentment by his jealous wife
When he died after a short illness
Catherine de Medici changed her life
Evicting Diana from castle and court
Queen Regent her vengeance wrought
***
The chateau received an Italian facelift
And a grand gallery over the bridge
Catherine was a notorious spendthrift
Living a life of splendour and privilege
Installing beautiful historic tapestries
While France fell deeper into anarchy
***
Madame Louise Dupin saved the castle
Nicknamed ‘goddess of beauty and music’
She advocated the bridge’s use for travel
Utilising her popularity and good ethics
In spring, the gardens still flourish
It’s natural beauty the soul does nourish
Thursday Doors and The Flower Hour
For Dan’s Thursday Doors I am showing you the exterior of the Chateau de Chenonceau and the separate tower as well as an outside cottage. You’ll have to wait until next week to see inside. You can join Dan’s Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/04/16/the-hungarian-room/
For Terri’s The Flower Hour, I’m giving you a peep at the flower displays inside Chateau de Chenonceau. You can join in The Flower Hour here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/04/14/the-flower-hour-26-lucky-flower-shots/
This is Chateau de Chenonceau
Walt Disney used the castle as the inspiration for one of his ‘Princesses’ castles. Can you guess which one?
This is the front door of Chateau de Chenonceau
This is the original tower on the site of Chateau de Chenonceau. Walt Disney used it for one of his movies. Can you guess which movie?
I really liked this cottage covered with flowering whisteria.
Click on the slideshow below to see some of the flower displays inside the chateau.
Roberta Writes – The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis book review on LatinosUSA
Roberta Writes – Simple Pleasures: Reading and Eating with Charles F. French on LatinosUSA
Roberta Writes – Blog Book Tour: Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes
Thank you, Robbie, for allowing me to take over your blog and talk about my new book, Fringes, Heartstrings, and Lyrics.
Once I had the title for this collection, I knew the Lyrics section would need to be poems. As I thought about that, I wanted to include more than my own work. So, I spent hours combing through a folder of my late husband’s writings from the 1960s looking for things to share. I found much more than I had room for. Then, my fourteen-year-old-granddaughter began reading some of her poems to me as I drove her to dance classes, and I was compelled to include some of those as well.
Here is a teaser from each of us. I hope you enjoy!
I Am You – You Are Me by Jan Sikes
I don’t know how it came to be
That we, in spirit love were joined
Somewhere out in eternity
Then split apart like a germinating seed
And placed on earth, each other to seek
Angels Are Perfect by Rick Sikes
The snow falls, and I am plagued with loneliness
As much as any man can possess
But my mind strays to bright summer days
When I knew your fond caress
Society by Sidney Klein
Welcome to society
We hope you enjoy your stay
You can do anything you want
As long as you do it our way
Book Blurb
At the edge of the world, and the center of the heart, you’ll find stories that linger.
Fringes explores dystopian futures where survival is uncertain and hope is fragile. In A Foreign World, The Forgotten, and Yearning for Paradise, humanity is pushed to its limits.
Heartstrings turns toward the warmth of love, resilience, and second chances. Stories such as A Promise Broken – A Promise Kept, She Dances with a Memory, and When Love Isn’t Enough remind us that the human spirit endures.
Lyrics captures life in poetry—moments of longing, faith, and reflection in pieces like Comes the Dawn, Society, and The Blind Man in the Night.
From chilling possibilities to comforting truths, Fringes, Heartstrings & Lyrics is a genre-blending collection of short fiction and poetry that will make you think, feel, and return again and again.
PURCHASE LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Fringes-Heartstrings-Lyrics-Jan-Sikes-ebook/dp/B0GRWQC3SH/
About Jan Sikes
Jan Sikes is a multi-award-winning author, who writes compelling and creative stories from the heart.
She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author, although she’s been an avid reader all her life. But she had a story to tell—Not just any story, but a true story to rival any fiction creation. She brought the powerful true story to life through fictitious characters in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books, accompanying music CDs, and a book of poetry and art.
And now, this author can’t put down the pen. She continues to write fiction in a variety of genres and has published many award-winning short stories and novels. She is an active blogger, a member of the Story Empire group, loves to support indie artists (both literary and musical) and is the grandmother of five beautiful souls. Find out more at http://www.jansikes.com
Find Jan Sikes
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks
https://bsky.app/profile/jksikes-author.bsky.social
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-sikes
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CS9K8DK (Author Page)
Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge and Tanka Tuesday
Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge
Esther’s challenge word this week is Vision. I am continuing my Paris series of poems and posts. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/04/08/writing-prompts-110/
Medici Fountain in Jardin du Luxembourg
It looms above me
a vision in sandstone,
bronze, and marble
the Medici Fountain
heard before it’s seen
water gushing down wide stairs
into a long tree-shaded basin
in white marble
the sea nymph, Galatea,
and the mortal, Acis
make love
while from behind
the jealous cyclops, Polyphemus
represented in bronze
sneaks upon them
a dead bull across his back
Is Acis’ death a tragedy?
Or is his transformation
into a river spirit
perfect immortalisation?
I wonder
my thoughts flowing
alongside the representations of
the River Rhone and River Seine
observed by Faunus and Diana
My photographs of Medici Fountain and closeups of the sculptures are in the slideshow below.
My Youtube video of the Medici Fountain.
Fountaine de Leda (at the back)
Fontaine de Leda
hidden fountain
depicting in stone
the seduction of Aetolian princess, Leda
by sky and thunder god, Zeus
in the form of a swan
Leda holds the bird
on her knees while
water flows from its bronze beak
the pair, encircled by roses
are shot by an arrow
from Cupid, lurking in the corner
The Fountaine de Leda is at the back of the Medici Fountain and a lot of people miss it. I saw it because I walked around the back of the Medici Fountain to get photographs on the other side.
Tanka Tuesday
My prompt for this week was to use onomatopoeia in a poem. I’ve written a tautogram poem using onomatopoeia using the American cinquain form.
spouting
sound symphony
splishing, splashing, spraying
splattering smooth, shining surface
splendid
You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/04/07/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-59-onomatopoeia-in-poetry-04-07-2026/
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