My November In Touch With Nature creature is the African Spoonbill. I have written a rensaku poem to share information about this fascinating wader.

Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

In Touch With Nature – The African Spoonbill #Africanbirds #InTouchWithNature #poetry

Lisa‘s prompt for this week’s d’Verse Quadrille is with. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/25/dverse-q213-with-a-little-help/

Waiting with you

I’ll be with you

When the artificial sleep comes

My mind will be with you

During your time in theatre

I’ll be waiting for you

When you open your eyes

I wish I could take your place

I can’t

But I’ll wait with you

Michael is having another small procedure on Monday, 2 December.

These are two of his recent artworks both in charcoal:

Thank you to amazing fiction writer, C.S. Boyack, for sharing a post for my Sesi says goodbye to Granny book blog tour. The post is all about an elephant’s trunk and shares some amazing facts about how elephants use their trunks.

Craig writes entertaining posts about writing, his muse, and the development of his remarkably imaginative fantasy books. If you haven’t tried one you really are missing out.

An Elephant’s Trunk

I’m a bit late for this challenge hosted by Kim, but this is my dragon poem for d’Verse’s Legendary Creatures prompt. You can read other poet’s contributions here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/19/legendary-creatures/

I have also snuck in Esther Chilton’s challenge for this week which is wishes. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/11/20/writing-prompts-41/

Chinese Dragon Colour Palette

Red scales for good luck

Adorn his snake like body

Mythical creature

Main guest at dragon dances

And various festivals

***

Shimmering in white

Twin offspring of sun and moon

Mythical creature

One symbolic of virtue

The other, death’s harbinger

***

Mythical creature

Magnificent in yellow

Emperor’s right hand dragon

Provider of sage wisdom

Guiding power’s central mind

***

Shining golden coat

Powerful sun deity

Mythical creature

Wishing humanity well

He brings great prosperity

***

Soothing blue and green

He aids in health and healing

Nature’s guardian

Mythical creature brings spring

Stimulating life and growth

***

Mythical creature

In a multicoloured coat

Fantasy art creation

Flies up to bring down rainstorms

But wishes he had bright wings

If you are interested, this is the presentation I gave at the SA Festival of Children’s Literature in 2023. It showcased a lot of my cake and fondant artwork.

Thursday Doors

I shared a door above, just in case you missed it – smile! This post is for Dan’s Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/11/20/hurry-up-but-not-yet-1linerweds/. The door I’ve shared was inspired by Rebecca Budd’s post about Vincent van Gogh here: https://chasingart.com/2024/11/15/vincent-van-gogh-and-the-chemistry-of-colour/

In addition, I am sharing the cabinet I saw at the Van Gogh Museum. It is the one in which Vincent’s brother, Theo, stored the letters he received from Vincent over his life. It is a beautiful piece of art in itself and it has a lot of drawers.

This is a picture I took of one of the letters from Vincent to Theo:

A few previously unshared photographs of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings.

Thank you to Michelle from Hotel by Masticadores for sharing this metaphorical poem titled Contrasting Colours.

Contrasting Colours, A Metaphorical Poem By Robbie Cheadle

Teagan is hosting a junk drawer creativity challenge. You can join in here: https://teagansbooks.com/2024/11/13/whatnot-wednesday-creativity-challenge/

Esther’s writing challenge this week is Comics. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/11/13/writing-prompts-40/

And so, I have arrived at …

Comics in the junk drawer

I jerk the drawer open

The contents spill out

Opening like butterfly wings

They land in a colourful heap

Vintage comics

Not vintage in my youth

Second hand and scuffed

Tossed out by older cousins

Who’d moved on to Archie

Treasured by Cath and I

The world of Richie Rich

So foreign to us girls

Ordinary kids leading simple lives

In a small seaside town

Happiness found at the beach

In the garden and at school

And … within the pages

Of a still glossy comic book

Richie Rich Limericks

Richie Rich

The boy who has everything

But is kind and likes sharing

He has several girlfriends

And the fun never ends

He’s always helpful and caring

Gloria Kind

Gloria is Richie Rich’s best girl

She has orange hair with a slight curl

She won’t accept expensive gifts

When he tries, she gets miffed

Among girls, she’s a perfect pearl

Picture caption: Gloria Glad from https://comicvine.gamespot.com/gloria-glad/4005-2648/

Little Lotta

An obese girl who loves to eat

Her consumption’s quite a feat

Her strength quite unique

She always turns the other cheek

No-one Little Lotta can defeat

Picture caption: Little Lotta from https://comicvine.gamespot.com/little-lotta/4005-2657/

Little Dot and me

Little Dot was my favourite of all

She was cute and not very tall

Obsessive just like me

In her myself I could see

With her dots she had a ball

Picture caption: Little Dot from https://comicvine.gamespot.com/little-dot/4005-2652/

Thank you to Colleen Chesebro for sharing this post about elephants, pregnancy and calves in celebration of the publication of Michael and my new children’s books, Sesi says goodbye to Granny. Colleen also assisted me with editing this book for which I am very grateful.

Sesi says Goodbye to Granny (Southern African Safari Adventures) by Robbie & Michael Cheadle

This post is doing triple duty for Esther Chilton’s writing challenge, d’Verse Quadrille #212, and fondant trolls for my wonderful photographer and nature conservationist friend, Wayne.

Esther’s challenge is to write something inspired by the word “fashion”. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/11/06/writing-prompts-39/

De Jackson’s, aka WhimsyGizmo, prompt for d’Verse is as follows:

What the what? Yep, that’s right, this week I want you to include some form of the word what in your 44-word poem. The poem after the prose is for this prompt.

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/11/quadrille-212-what-the-what/

Wayne’s trolls are at the end of the post and compliment the poem I posted on Saturday about Norwegian trolls here:

The Red Devil Costume

When I was a little girl, I loved to dance. I attended ballet classes with fourteen other little girls who loved to dance. I was flexible and learned to do backbends and the splits quickly. After several months of learning the foundations of ballet, our teacher sent home a letter.

“The ballet school is holding a concert,” Mom said after reading the letter. “You will be a lady bird, and I need to make you a costume.”

I was delighted. Dressing up was one of my favourite things.

On the day of the concert, I was dressed in a yellow leotard, yellow tights, black ballet shoes, and a black Alice band with black sequinned antenna. I also had wings made from soft black netting with red dots on it.

The concert was held in a hall. Being one of the youngest children, my lady bird dance was early in the proceedings. The dance students had to stay until the end, and I spent my time alternating between running about being a flying lady bird and watching the other dancers.

It was during one of my swoops down the long passageway with several doors into the concert hall and dressing rooms, that I saw her. I stopped and starred. Mesmerised. The older girl on the stage was a red devil and was doing the most amazing and graceful dance. She was attired in a red leotard and red tights with a short, stiff red tutu that stuck out perfectly. She held a red pitchfork and had a red Alice band with red horns. Even her ballet shoes were red. A ballet fashion statement, I was enchanted. I watched the whole of the dance and afterwards, went to sit alone in a corner to contemplate the splendour of that costume.

I asked Mom for a red devil costume for Christmas. She wasn’t particularly interested so I knew Mom was a lost cause for fulfilling this dream. I then asked Granny Joan to make me a red devil costume. On Christmas Day, I eagerly awaited the arrival of Granny Joan and Granddad Jack. Eventually, they arrived, their old beige Ford Cortina pulling up to the front door. Granny Joan climbed out clutching a bag full of parcels. I was the last child to receive my gift. As soon as I had the package in my hands, I rushed away to a quiet place behind the couch to unwrap it.

Inside the cheerful Christmas paper was my red devil outfit. A pair of red tights, a red leotard, a red skirt made from soft netting, and handmade devil horns and a pitchfork made from stiff cardboard, red sequins, and red felt. The only thing I didn’t have was red ballet shoes but that didn’t matter. Ballet shoes were expensive, and I didn’t need shoes because Granny had cleverly bought footless tights.

The red devil costume was my favourite outfit for months and months. When I wore it, I was also a ballet fashion statement.

A magical red devil costume

To stimulate my imagination

Setting free my creativity

Allowing me to follow dreams

The red sequins catching the light

Creating mottled red patches

On the wooden floorboards

Turning our lounge into a concert hall

What more could I want?

Fondant trolls

I have always loved trolls. Trolls are included in three of my children’s books, Sir Chocolate and the strawberry cream berries story and cookbook, Sir Chocolate and the Condensed Milk River story and cookbook, and Haunted Halloween Holiday.

I had to attend a memorial service for a family member yesterday so I couldn’t join this live meeting which is held once a month. It is a lovely gathering so I recommend it to fellow poets. I will try to join the December meeting (although I may be in Japan on the relevant date).

Bjorn‘s prompt for d’Verse Open Link Night was this:

Troll and child by John Bauer (1882-1918)

John Bauer is one of the most loved artists and illustrators we have in Sweden. His style is truly unique, and his way of painting magic woods stands as a model how real forests should look like. The children stories he illustrated are often less known than the images, but I believe he often described the trolls more as societal outcasts than evil creature which is why my choice of picture was one of a troll mother and her child. John Bauer met an early death together with his wife and son on a boat accident on lake Vättern.

You can join read the other poems for this d’Verse challenge here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/07/open-link-night-373-live-edition/

It perfectly suited my poem, An Encounter with Norwegian Trolls which I wrote during my visit to Norway in May this year. This poem was originally published on Masticadores USA by editor Barbara Leonhard here: https://masticadoresusa.wordpress.com/2024/09/01/an-encounter-with-norwegian-trolls-a-garland-cinquain-by-robbie-cheadle/. I really enjoyed researching Norwegian trolls and writing this poem on the flight home.

Picture caption: Three female troll figurines wearing knitted beanies

During a recent trip to Oslo, Norway, I came across some cute troll figurines in a souvenir shop. I purchased a few and they led me to look up a bit about Norwegian Trolls. I included the knowledge I gleaned into the following poem. Although the troll figurines are more cute than scary, I’ve included a few pictures of them.

Old Norse
Warrior Bolg (Note 1)
Overrunning farmlands
Pillaging homes, produce, and crops
Beware!
***
Forest
Troll tradition
Formidable Skogsra (Note 2)
Occupying burial mounds
Avoid!
***
Twin males
Dangerous pair
Mean, mythical creatures
Turned to rock through light exposure
Justice!
***
Wrothmir (Note 3)
Human eater
Hideous appearance
Dwelling in isolated caves
Run fast!
***
Troll’s toss
Favourite game
Of aggressive females
Ringing church bells will banish them
Fearsome!
***
Old Norse
Troll tradition
Mean, mythical creatures
Dwelling in isolated caves
Fearsome!

Note 1 – Bolg means pain or horror in the Common Tongue of Norway. A male troll.
Note 2 – Skogsra means forest one in Old Norse. A female troll
Note 3 – Wrothmir means defender or protector. Its origin is unknown. A gender-neutral troll.

Copyright © 2024 Robbie Cheadle
All Rights Reserved

About Trolls

Trolls are entrenched in Scandinavian folklore. Numerous tales are recorded about trolls in which they are described as being old, very strong, slow, and dim-witted. Sometimes, the stories describe them as being man-eaters which are turned to stone by exposure to sunlight.

This extract from The Hobbit illustrates JR Tolkien’s thoughts about trolls:

“Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don’t look like mutton again tomorrer,” said one of the trolls.

“Never a blinking bit of manflesh have we had for long enough,” said a second. “What the ‘ell William was a-thinkin’ of to bring us into these parts at all, beats me – and the drink running’ short, what’s more,” he said jogging the elbow of William, who was taking a pull at his jug.

William choked. “Shut yer mouth!” he said as soon as he could. “Yer can’t expect folk to stop here for ever just to be et by you and Bert. You’ve et a village and a half between yer, since we came down from the mountains. How much more d’yer want? And time’s been up our way, when yer’d have said ‘thank yer Bill’ for a nice bit o’ fat valley mutton like what this is.” He took a big bite off a sheep’s leg he was roasting, and wiped his lips on his sleeve.

Picture captions: My male troll figurines purchased in Norway

Merril‘s prompt for d’Verse is Choose Joy, as follows:

Today, I’m asking you to write about something(s) that brings you joy. It can be a tiny thing, like a favorite mug, or a big thing like seeing so many people voting, or huge, like life itself.
If you need a specific idea, look around the room you’re in now or look out the window. Find something there that brings you joy. There are no limits. And there can be more than one thing.

This is Poetics, so there is also no designated form.

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/05/poetics-choose-joy/

Lisa‘s prompt for Tanka Tuesday is to write a syllabic poem using synonyms for comfort and promise. You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/11/04/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-synonyms-only-11-5-2024/

I wrote a rensaku (tanka series using the common line or phrase – Together we stand). For Tanka Tuesday, I used cosy for comfort and pledge for promise

Together we stand

Together we stand

Repeating our wedding vows

Until death us parts

We count our many blessings

Happiness is a mindset

***

Lives changed forever

When our sons entered the world

Together we stand

Pieces of our beating hearts

That live outside our bodies

***

Together we stand

Watching the elephants play

Their joy contagious

Creativity pours forth

Moments captured as pictures

***

Rain falling in sheets

Centre of electric storm

Together we stand

Thunder cracks, lightning flashes

Inside we remain cozy

***

Together we stand

Dewdrops bathed in morning light

Embrace the new day

Pledge of continuation

Of nature’s cycle of life

***

Muddy waters clear

Grim Reaper’s call averted

Together we stand

Adversity left behind

Different view on life and love

Thursday Doors – Vondel Park, Amsterdam

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/11/07/still-riding-to-ohio/

During my visit to Amsterdam in May, TC and I visited Vondel Park. It was a cool, overcast day which was perfect for walking.