Category: Sunday Stills

Roberta Writes – W3 and Esther Chilton’s writing Challenge, Sunday Stills and CFFC

I am late this week with my W3 and Esther Chilton’s writing challenge combined contribution. This is partly due to the fact that my W3 poem did not meet all the stated requirements in the way requested. I bent the rules so I am publishing this with a reference to the W3 inspiration source but I’m not linking to the challenge.

You can view other poets contributions to W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/08/19/w3-prompt-225-weave-written-weekly/

You can view other contributions to Esther Chilton’s writing challenge from last week, fire, here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/08/19/word-prompts-4/

The Candle (freestyle poem)

The stubby candle stood

in a puddle of its own wax

For 92 years its flame had burned

Occasionally

during times of illness

it had burned low

but always

it had been steadfast

pulsing with the rhythm

of her life’s blood

During the good years

it had danced and leaped

during the bad years

it had twisted and bent

accommodating

the turbulent winds

But, it never went out

On and on it burned

sustained for the last fifteen years

by well intentioned doctors

who provided life sustaining drugs

Gazing into its glowing heart

it seemed to mock her

whispering her lossses

the traitorous husband

long returned to the earth

and the name of her home

her sanctuary

the place she’d holed up

to lick her wounds

and regain her sense of self worth

Now it was gone

sold, and the proceeds used

to sustain her unwanted life

in this place of the old and dying

Those same well intentioned doctors

whose drugs kept her heart beating

withheld the much needed pain relief

not wanting to further damage

her aged and declining body

as if it mattered at her age

She wished on them arthritis

and a long and painfilled old age

She could stop the medications

the end would come quicker

but the risks were high

The idea of an intact mind

inhabiting a completely broken body

lying in a bed in frail care

completely dependent on others

held her back

So she gazed with resentment

at that damned flame

wishing it extinguished

Sunday Stills and CFFC

Sunday Stills is all about mini beasts this week and CFFC is about things we watch. I watch mini-beasts so I put the two challenges together. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/08/23/sunday-stills-animal-of-the-month-dog-and-butterfly/ and here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/08/24/where-what-when-we-watch-cffc/

A variety of bugs in the garden:

Two orange butterflies on purple flowers in the Drakensberg
Bee on a cosmos flower in our local park
Beetle on a garden plant
Stinkbug on a garden tap
Butterfly on the outside flagstones

Warning, spiders ahead!

Some sort of orb spider in the Drakensberg
The same orb spider from a different angle which results in different lighting
B&W picture of a golden orb spider in the bush

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

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/

Roberta Writes – W3 Poetry Challenge, d’Verse – Jump, Sunday Stills and Thursday Doors

David is this week’s host and he has asked poets to write about life changes as follows:

Sometimes life changes enough that something familiar becomes new again.

“Think of something you have experienced in the past, are experiencing now, or imagine experiencing in the future: doing an ordinary thing you have done many times before, but under changed circumstances that make it feel like a first time.”

You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/08/12/w3-prompt-224-weave-written-weekly/

The Same but Different

different

yet much the same

or the same

yet somewhat different

some differences

are better

others

are much worse

is this because

I am the same

and find adjusting

to what’s different

difficult

or is it because

I am different

and others like things

to remain the same

I hope

that what’s different

but definitely worse

can evolve

into something

different but better

and that

what’s essentially the same

but done differently

making it more tolerable

with not deteriorate

if not

my disillusionment

will remain the same

just in a different

environment

d’Verse: Jumpstart your poem

De Jackson’s prompt is to write a 44 word Quadrille using the word jump. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/08/10/quadrille-353-jumpstart-your-poem/

During our trip to the Kruger National Park last week we had the tremendous good luck to see an African fish eagle landing on its nest. It was making its iconic call known as the Sound of Africa.

I am introducing my poem with a video of the cry of the African fish eagle.

Loud, haunting

the yodel-like call

disrupted the music

inside the vehicle

Sound of Africa

ringing forth

evocative and stirring

We jumped. Looked

Encircled by leafy branches

African fish eagle landed

on its messy nest

head thrown backwards

projecting the sound

far across the veld

Picture caption: African fish eagle landing on its nest. I love the encircling tree.
Picture caption: The typical calling posture of an African fish eagle with its head thrust forward.

Sunday Stills (again) and Thursday Doors

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/08/13/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-cathedral/

You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/08/09/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-yellow-hues-featuring-ochre-and-saffron/

Picture caption: This large safari vehicle has doors. The reason I took the photograph though was the little silhouette on top of the cab. What could it be?

The little creature on top of the cab in the vehicle photograph is a vervet monkey. This are adorable but also little terrorists who will steal very efficiently and effectively. This one had just pinched food out of the vehicle of a family of tourists. The family was quite shocked and horrified at having a bag of treats snatched out of the hands of a small child. Naughty it might be but it was so adorable with its look of complete innocence as it ate its treat.

Vervet monkey chewing on a treat
Vervet monkey chewing on a treat. The monkey was turning towards me.
"Who me?" a total look of innocence in the dark liquid eyes of the vervet monkey
The same vervet monkey after it retreated up a tree

And for Terri’s golden Sunday Stills a few pictures of Borke’s Luck Potholes. We were so lucky with our timing and the mellow winter sun turned the rocky facings to gold. Have I mentioned that yellow is my favourite colour (grin!)

River running through the gorge. The rocky facings on the left are bathed in golden light.
Close up of the potholes in the rock with a small rapid flowing from the centre pothole. The surrounding cliffs are bathed in golden light
This is a more distant shot of the potholes and the golden cliffs.
This is a close up of the pothole with the rapid gushing out of it and the surrounding golden cliffs.

Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, CFFC, Thursday Doors & Sunday Stills

It doesn’t rain in Johannesburg during the winter. At least it never did until this year. This week, after the winter solstice, we got rain and a heavy mist. While in the traffic on my way into the office, I wrote this poem and took the accompanying photograph. Unusual for my home city.

This poem is a lai comprising of nine lines for Melissa’s Tanka Tuesday challenge. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/06/23/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-70-the-lai-6-23-26/

Slish! Splosh! Splash!

grey cloud hovers low

golden headlights glow

splish splosh

car snake ultra slow

drizzle impacts flow

my gosh

large puddle – oh no!

mud streaks quite a blow

must wash

Picture caption: A picture of two cranes in Sandton on my drive to work. They are obscured by mist and look rather ghostly and ethereal

Thursday Doors, CFFC, and Sunday Stills

Dan’s CFFC challenge is blue. I have found blue pictures for Dan’s Thursday Doors challenge and Terri’s Sunday Stills wild animals challenge.

You can join in Dan’s CFFC here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/06/22/the-crayola-box-of-8-blue-cffc/

You can join in Dan’s Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/06/25/czechoslovak-room/

You can join in Terri’s Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/06/21/sunday-stills-animal-of-the-month-where-the-wild-things-are/

Picture caption: I loved the doors of this building, 3 Place Denfert-Rochereau, Paris. The late evening sky turned the white of the building blue and the light glows a lovely yellow from the inside. I liked the arched shape of these large doors with the square inlay.

Click on the slideshow to view two giraffes that I saw at Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterkloof, South Africa. This is a series of three photographs of the heads and upper necks of two young giraffes against a bright, blue sky. In the first photograph, the two animals are close together but apart. In the second and third photograph, the two giraffes have crossed their necks at the top so that their heads are pointing in opposite directions. In the second photo, the animals are looking straight ahead while in the last photograph they are looking up with their heads angled upwards.

Picture caption: Dam at Pilanesberg Game Reserve with autumn foliage in the front and hills in the background. the predominant colour is misty blue
Picture caption: small dam on the golf course at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead. The sky is very blue and so is the water.
Picture caption: Trees in autumn red and yellow at the Johannesburg Country Club. The sky is a bright blue.

Roberta Writes – d’Verse, W3, CFFC, Bird of the Week, and Sunday Stills

Another crazy week has come to an end. My mother has had a terrible few weeks with blepharitis and severe eye pain. This condition, combined with her chronic dry eye has made her quality of life very poor. She’s been wearing a hat pulled right down over her eyes and the antibiotic cream made her practically blind. Very worrying for me from a fall risk point of view.

I took her to my optometrist at 7.30am this morning (she squeezed her in) and she now has a whole treatment plan to treat both chronic conditions. I’m hoping she will have no pain and be able to read again soon.

TC has also been in India for the last two weeks. He arrives home this afternoon. When he’s not home I have to do everything so life feels even busier than usual.

This is the main reason why my post is late this week but, as I always say, better late than never.

I’ve put a few challenges together again today.

d’Verse and W3

Nancy’s prompt is to write a poem in four-stanzas with eight syllables per line about a hard-earned accomplishment. You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/06/17/w3-prompt-216-weave-written-weekly/

Lillian’s Tuesday d’Verse challenge is Get out your crayons and come colour with me. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/06/16/get-out-your-crayons-and-come-color-with-me/

I’ve been learning colour theory for my painting. I am very happy with the results and will share a new painting incorporating my new skills soon. In the meantime, here is a poem about colour theory.

Splat and that

world of colour theory opens

mixing and matching a great game

drop of red enhances golden

tones that ignite into bright flame

***

splashing orange into umber

instills richness into brown

change like wakefulness from slumber

remarkable shade turnaround

***

smear of scarlet into China white

uplifts it to the palest pink

now white painted sections look right

retraining mind on how to think

***

Van Dyke brown enhanced with light blue

brings a greater deepness to dark

eye perceives subtle change in hue

enriched pigment resets benchmark

d’Verse and Bird of the Week

De Jackson’s prompt is to write a quadrille (44 word poem) about a myth. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/06/15/quadrille-250-mything-poems/

You can join in Bird of the Week here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/06/16/egyptian-goose-birds-of-the-week-invitation-clxxiii/

My poem is about the myths surrounding the African Fish Eagle which I was privileged to see on my recent bush trip.

The Messenger

know as the ‘Voice of Africa’

its iconic yodeling cry

trails across the blue sky

like condensation from planes

African fish eagle

steeped in mythology and folklore

revered in Bantu and Shona traditions

as its carries messages

between the heavens

and the earthly realm

My photographs of the African fish eagle

Sunday Stills and CFFC

Dan’s CFFC challenge is green. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/06/15/the-crayola-box-of-8-green-cffc/

Terri’s Sunday Still’s challenge is also green. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/06/14/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-exploring-evergreen-and-wonder-in-the-great-outdoors/

These pictures are typical of the South African bush during autumn (except for the Country Club one).

Baboon
Male kudu
Mom and baby hippo
Elephant
Lion with his tongue out
Fountain between the trees at the Country Club
Rhino in the bush

Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, TDWC26, Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, CFFC, Bird of the Week, Sunday Stills and Thank you’s

Tanka Tuesday

Colleen’s challenge is to write a poem using homophones. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/05/19/first-sighting-tankatuesday-fun-with-homophones/

Gaining Wisdom (American cinquain)

learning

to wait, suss out

people and surroundings

assessment lends weight to future

choices

TDWC26 and Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge

This is the last week of Dan’s TDWC26. I’ve used a photograph by Yvette Prior. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/

Esther’s challenge for this week is eyes. As the glass inlets in the doors reminded me of eyes, I put the two challenges together. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/05/20/writing-prompts-115/

Picture caption: Photography submitted to Dan Antion’s TDWC26 by Yvette Prior.

I spy with my little eye …

something …

but what is it?

“A hartebeest,” says TC

“I disagree. It’s a common tsessebe.”

“A tess… a … what?“

“A tsessebe.”

“There’s no such creature!

Check on your phone.“

“Hmmm! AI says … it’s an elk.”

“What! You don’t get elk in South Africa.“

“I know that. Let me try a different picture.

“Now AI says its a mammal.”

“What kind of mammal?“

“AI doesn’t go into details. It’s just a mammal.”

“Useless AI. It’s having illusions.“

“Not really. A tsessebe is a mammal.”

The two sets of photographs below are of first a hartebeest and second a tsessebe. You can see how similar they look.

Bird of the Week

I took this photograph on Friday at Pilanesberg Game Reserve. TC and I were there for two days to celebrate his birthday which is tomorrow. It’s not the best of my photographs (TC was hogging my camera) but it was such a striking blue that I’m using it for this poem. It’s nice not having to work on a Friday in my new job. If I do have to work on a Friday, I get another day off at a later date so that is very nice for me.

You can join in Bird of the Week here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/indian-grey-hornbill-birds-of-the-week-invitation-clxix/

Picture caption: A striking Malachite Kingfisher in the dam at Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Malachite Kingfisher (freestyle poem)

Perching atop a reed

surveying its surrounds

Malachite kingfisher

Drops!

Splash!

Pops up with a struggling captive

small fish

grasped around its middle

Toss!

It flops

Into an open beak

Swallow!

Sunday Stills

Terri is showcasing babies this week for Sunday Stills. I just happened to have photographed a few babies at Pilanesberg this weekend.

You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/24/sunday-stills-always-be-my-baby/

Two pictures of an adorable zebra foal.

Photographs of a giraffe foal. It’s main and coat are still ginger, the colouring of newborn giraffes.

Photographs of young kudus. These are adolescents.

CFFC

Dan is showcasing signs. I rarely photograph signs but this one at the lodge gave me a giggle. You can join in CFFC here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/05/18/leftover-signs/

Thank you!

Thank you to wonderful poet and author, Freya Pickard, who shared a wonderful review of my book, Burning Butterflies. You can read Freya’s review here: https://purehaiku.wordpress.com/2026/05/22/burning-butterflies/

A huge thank you to Sally Cronin from Smorgasbord Blog Magazine for showcasing an extract from my poetry book: Burning Butterflies. You can read Sally’s lovely post here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2026/05/23/smorgasbord-book-promotions-2026-share-an-excerpt-boost-one-of-your-books-poetry-art-burning-butterflies-poetry-about-southern-african-flora-and-fauna-by-robbie-cheadle/

Roberta Writes – d’Verse, TDWC26, Sunday Stills, The Flower Hour, and Thursday Doors

After six weeks of sabbatical, I am starting a new job on Monday. I’m glad I was able to see Paris over Easter and nurse my mother and Michael through the new Flu B. It is a reduced hours job so I’ll see how that goes. Wish me luck.

d’Verse, TDWC26, Sunday Stills, and The Flower Hour

Restless Jo provided a delightful photograph for Dan’s TDWC26. This yellow, blue and white house was the initial inspiration for my haibun below. You can join Dan’s challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/

Punam from d’Verse provided some artworks as inspiration for her Poetics Tuesday: What art says challenge. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/05/12/poetics-tuesday-what-art-says/

Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge is pastels. My Primrose antique doll and the flowers in the background are pastels. The flowers are for Terri’s The Flower Hour challenge too.

You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/10/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-pink-and-pastels/

You can join in The Flower Hour here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/05/12/the-flower-hour-30-camellia-a-little-closer/

A Fresh Coat of Paint (haibun)

Picture caption: Yellow, blue, and white house photograph contributed by Restless Jo

Primrose looked at her freshly painted home with satisfaction. Arthur had recently finished reading a first edition of Tom Sawyer. He’d been so inspired he’d volunteered to give her dolls house home a fresh look. It looked terrific. Its yellow, blue, and white walls sparkled under the bright display lights of the antique children’s books and toys room.

She glanced at the tapestry on the opposite wall. The dark yellow room was exquisitely sew with careful, even stitches. She liked the wall hanging and it helped to keep the room warm and snug. Museums were drafty. She was glad she had her delightful dolls house to live in and her home wasn’t merely a 2D dream.

rainbow dreams elude

bricks and mortar evidence

my reality

Picture caption: Art inspiration provided by Punam

Click on the bar to view Primrose, an antique doll form Faversham in England, with a background of roses I received for Mothers Day last Sunday. A little past their prime but they are still pretty … and pastel. You will also see Arthur, a vintage doll from Graaf Reinet in South Africa.

Thursday Doors

These are a few more random photographs form my short trip to Paris over Easter.

The two images above are of the moving walkway in the Paris Airport (Charles de Gaulle). It was very long and there wasn’t another soul in sight. For me, it was a little creepy as it was my first time in this airport. I was glad to see the door at the end of the walkway coming into sight.

Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt & CFFC & Sunday Stills

Esther Chilton’s prompt word for this week is DRIVE. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2026/02/11/writing-prompts-102/

I’ve written a Tanka Peunte poem.

Racing Snake

bumper to bumper

three lines snake in; three snake out

not driving – waiting!

constricting coils draw tighter

consideration turns blue

“Drive slow and enjoy the scenery, drive fast and join the scenery.” – Douglas Horton

black mamba slithers

along highway; racing dusk

tyres just touching

asphalt spun out like ribbon

driving with abandonment

CFFC

Dan’s prompt this week is gadgets and gismos. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/02/16/gizmos-and-gadgets-cffc/

Picture caption: This is Michael as a baby with a lot of gizmos and gadgets you get for small children

Sunday Stills

Terri’s Sunday Still’s challenge is sweet. These are photographs of early cake and other sweet creations I made for parties for my sons.

You can join in the challenge here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/02/15/sunday-stills-simple-and-sweet/