My apologies, work has been crazy for the past two weeks so I got a bit behind with posting these episodes. I am posting two today, episodes 14 and 15.
Jake Tanner
Letter from Private Jake Tanner to his fiancée, Kate Henderson 30 November 1917
My dearest Kate
I often wonder how you are and how your job at the factory is going. I can’t believe you’ve been working there for nearly three months already.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and the army celebrated in style. We were given the day off as a holiday and had an excellent dinner of turkey, cranberry sauce, asparagus, corn, sweet potato, apple pie, cake, and coffee. It was nice of the government to make sure we had such a good meal.
The weather has turned cold, and it snowed a little yesterday and last night. Our winter uniforms have still not arrived, and our current ones are quickly wearing out. My boots are also in a bad state because they are constantly wet, and it is impossible to dry, clean, or oil them.
Most of the men embraced training in gas discipline with enthusiasm.
“It’s a step closer to the front,” said Robson.
“What are you in such a rush to get to the front for?” asked Big Mouth. Jake noted a reduction in Big Mouth’s enthusiasm for the front since Mike died. The death of one of their own lay heavily on all the men’s hearts.
Jake examined the scary-looking gas mask he’d been issued.
“You must wear your helmet and carry your mask with you at all times,” ordered Sarge.
“Again,” ordered Capitaine Moreau. “You must learn to put your gas mask on in six seconds.”
Gas mask on, gas mask off. The practice went on and on for hours. When the men finally mastered putting on their own masks to Capitaine Moreau’s satisfaction, they practiced putting masks on horses.
Tell us a bit about Paul Cannon. How and why did you start writing poetry?
My earliest memory of my interest in poetry is my parents encouraging me to listen to them reading poetry to me from the Children’s Book Of Verse. I remember in later primary school having to memorise poems like Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and Southey’s ‘The Inchcape Rock’ along with Patterson’s ‘The Man From Snowy River.’ Poetry captured my imagination.
Later, in high school, we were introduced to many poets and forms from around the world. We were also tasked with writing poetry which I enjoyed. One poet who I continue to read from that time is Robert Frost, I love the way he draws me into observing human behaviour and feelings, and how he observes nature.
After high school I continued to write. The incentive was, naturally, love interests. My girlfriends were always polite about my writing, not least Lyn my wife to be. From the time I married in 83 to the mid nineties I was hit and miss with writing, what brought me back in earnest was my journey into becoming an Anglican priest and the pathway of training to be a spiritual director or companion for those needing a sounding board for personal discernment. This journey opened me up to the poetry of Mary Oliver, R.S. Thomas, Denise Levertov, Blake, Milton, Edwina Gateley, Noel Davis, Rumi, Hafez, Layli and many more. These poets inspired me and I became intentional about my writing at this point.
I didn’t go online with my poems until 2017. I was writing prose on Face Book and switched to WordPress in 2013 and it was through the WordPress community that I was encouraged to take the plunge into poetry after posting some tentative pieces.
Picture caption: Cover of Gratitude & No Fairy Tale: Just Her Poetry Book Three by D.L. Finn
What Amazon says
Explore D. L. Finn’s poetic journey, from her newest to earliest works. Part One immerses you in a combination of her photography and symbolic poems. Peaceful winter days, forests, and sunsets illuminate her search for the magic of life. Part Two retraces her journey from her first poems. Her life is revealed through free verse poems and photographs that were featured in her memoir, No Fairy Tale. She discovers gratitude on her path to happiness. Join her as she explores her reality through emotions and nature in this special collection.
Once again, Jake’s platoon spent the day digging. Boredom, the physical effort, and the weather colluded, and the men were edgy and bad-tempered.
“The Tommies broke through the Hinderberg line at Cambrai yesterday,” said Big Mouth.
“I heard the Tommies used tanks for the assault. I’d love to see a tank,” said Joe, his eyes alight with enthusiasm.
“Yeah, I also read they used tanks.” Big Mouth stopped work and leaned on his spade. “The USA 11th, 12th, and 14th Engineer Regiments supported the British troops by doing railway construction work behind the trenches. Lucky bastards.”
As with every stop along the way of the tour, you get a chance at a free digital copy of The Ones Who Stayed With Me just be leaving a comment. So, please don’t leave without saying ‘hello’.
Giveaway
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free digital copy of The Ones Who Stayed With Me By Nurse Sammy One entry per stop.
Winners are chosen in a random drawing.
Sponsored by WordCrafter Press.
About Nurse Sammy
Nurse Sammy has spent her life walking the quiet edges of human suffering and human grace. Long before she ever wore scrubs, she learned how to read a room by the way someone breathed and how to steady a shaking hand. How to listen to the stories people only tell when they think it might be their last night to say them. Nursing wasn’t a career she chose; it was the language her heart was already speaking.
She has worked in places where life is beginning, and in places where life is ending; in rooms lit by hope, and in rooms where grief hangs heavy in the doorway. Rehab centers, memory care halls, pediatric units, assisted living, private homes, wherever someone needed gentleness, she went. She became the one who held vigil, the one who noticed the quiet details, the one who stayed.
Her personal life has carried its own ache, abuse survived, love lost, a marriage that bruised the soul, another built from healing, and a grief that still hums beneath her ribs. She writes from the tender, broken places, from the nights she rebuilt herself alone, from the mornings she rose anyway. Her words are shaped by both the wounds and the resilience that followed.
The Ones Who Stayed With Me is her first published work, a collection of truths disguised as stories, honoring the people who left fingerprints on her life in ways they never saw. Her writing is soft but unflinching, honest but merciful, threaded with the belief that even in darkness, someone is always holding a light.
Nurse Sammy lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she continues to care, to witness, to learn, and to turn the hardest parts of her journey into something that might help someone else breathe a little easier.
Picture caption: Nurse Sammy
Chapter Excerpt Reading of “Is It B.M. or Chocolate Pudding?”, by Nurse Sammy
About The Ones Who Stayed With Me
Picture caption: Cover of The Ones Who Stayed With Me by Nurse Sammy
Chronicles of the journey into the medical field as a young nurse and beyond, told with raw sensitivity and compassion. The Ones Who Stayed with Me offers small glimpses into the world of an L.P.N. put in difficult, often touching or humorous, situations—and Nurse Sammy’s courage, vulnerability, and insight are a gift to us all. In these pages, Nurse Sammy tells her story and that of those she met along the way.
That’s all for today’s stop. I do hope you enjoyed our interview and have a better idea of the amazing young woman who shares her story with raw honesty in The Ones Who Stayed With Me. Join us tomorrow, over at Undawnted, which you’ll be able to find through the link, which will be there once it posts. You can’t comment there, but if you want to get into the giveaway for that stop, Kaye Lynne Booth will reblog it on “Writing to be Read”, and you can leave your comments on that post here.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 12 – Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores & Masticadores Phillipines
Dora’s prompt is as follows: “For your first poetics challenge of the year, I’d like you to dip your word-brush into Bishop’s poetic inkpot, as it were, consciously incorporating accuracy (detail), spontaneity (immediacy), and mystery (revelation) to write your own original poem.“
I’m a bit late reblogging this episode as I’ve been traveling and in the bush since 2 January. I can repost from Robbie’s Inspiration through Jetpack but this blog does not play the reposting game.
Thanks for sharing episode 12, Nolcha.
“The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 12)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Jake Tanner
9 November 1917
Jake’s platoon was assigned a day of hard labor.
“From now on, men, it’s going to be one day of military training and drilling and one day of hard labor,” Sarge announced that morning. “We’ve all got to do our bit to help get the training center built.”
The troops spent the day digging foundations for the numerous buildings that would comprise the training center. There would be barracks, administrative buildings, hospitals, and Y.M.C.A. facilities. Other infrastructure would also be needed, including roads and telephone wires.
“The training center must be built and up and running before the next lot of recruits start to arrive,” Sarge said during the evening meal.
“I’ll be glad to get back to military training tomorrow,” Beau complained. “It’s easy compared to building.”
“It sure is,” whined Mike, “just look at my hands.” The palms he held out were studded with blisters. “I’ve got handling those five-ton iron and steel beams to thank for these.”
“Mine are the same,” Jake said, “What about you, Joe?”
I am late reposting this. I have been struggling to reblog from my iphone. I have to do it manually on my laptop. Is anyone else having an issue with reblogging?
Thank you, Nolcha, for sharing part 11 of my book.
Jake Tanner
Letter from Private Jake Tanner to his fiancée, Kate Henderson 3 November 1917
Dear Kate
This is just a quick note to let you know my battalion is billeted in a small town in France. I am sharing a barn with the men from my platoon. Joe, Mike, Beau, and Will are still with me, and that’s a comfort.
I am glad we are living in a barn and not tents, as it has rained nearly continuously since our arrival two weeks ago. The barns leak, but the earth floors are high enough not to flood.
The mud here is different from the mud back home. It is a yellow clay which builds up thickly on our boots and must be scraped off. I never thought I’d be spending 30 minutes a day trying to get mud off my boots and uniform.
A lot of the army supplies are still in England or stateside, so rations are a bit of a sore topic. The food is dull and repetitive, with stew and corned beef hash being staples. None of us has much money ,and we pawned just about every trinket we brought with us at the different stores in exchange for tobacco and chocolate. Some of the men resorted to smoking tea, dried clover leaves, and anything else they can get their hands on. Don’t worry, I have not done this. I’ve never been that keen on smoking, as you know.
We have started training even though a lot of our equipment hasn’t yet arrived. I hope the food situation will improve soon, as it is hard to be energetic when you are hungry.
Hi everyone, its Robbie Cheadle with you today and part 2 of my wonderful holiday treat. The multitalented Resa McConaghy is sharing another of her spectacular Art Gowns in celebration of the holiday season.
Happy New Year
Let 2026 begin in the best of spirits and full of cheer!
roberta-writes.com 