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/

Through the window of the airplane at Dubai Airport

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 – 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.

Side view of the Medici Fountain
Close up of Polyphemus looking down on the lovers, Galatea and Acis
Close up of Galatea and Acis
Close up of Polyphemus with the dead bull across his back

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/

Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Imperatively Yours, Thursday Doors, The Flower Hour & CFFC

Frontal view of the fountain showing the centerpiece in good light.

Bonjour! I am back from my 6-day race around Paris and surrounds.

D’verse: Imperatively Yours

Dora has asked poets to write a poem using the imperative mood. You can learn more about this here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/04/07/poetics-imperatively-yours/. I have written my poem about Paris.

Paris in Spring

You must love Paris

What’s not to love?

The sun shines brightly

The statues gleam whitely

Spring abounds everywhere

Tulips model the new colours

Bedecking flowerbed ramps

Which style do you like best?

While pansies peep shyly

From behind tulip skirts

Waiting for their moment

To steal the show

Who will win best bonnet?

And in the corner

A vivid splash of yellow

Daffodils bow their own horns

Along the path

Water splashes loudly

Come and admire me

The fountain thunders

White feather boas

Streaming upwards

Silvery drops blowing

On the treacherous wind

Sharp reminder

That Old Man Winter

Is still directing

The production

Jardin Du Luxembourg

The Jardin du Luxembourg was created in 1612 when Marie de’ Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, constructed the Luxembourg Palace as her new residence. This is the number one garden in Paris and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, tennis courts, flowerbeds, model sailboats on its octagonal Grand Bassin. It is also home to the Fontaine de l’Observatoire and Medici Fountain. I’m showcasing the Fontaine de l’Observatoire today.

Click on the slideshow to see the Fontaine de l’Observatoire:

This is one of my Youtube videos of this fountain:

You can see more of my Paris Youtube videos on my channel.

Thursday Doors

The Universite de Paris Institut d’Art Et d’Archeologie is near the Jardin du Luxembourg. I really liked the brick patterning of this building which is why I took these photographs. It reminded me of lego.

These photographs are for Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge: https://nofacilities.com/2026/04/09/heinz-chapel/

This is a shot of the Universite de Paris Institut d'Art Et d'Archeologie with its interesting brick patterning.

This is the ornate door of the University

The Flower Hour and CFFC, view as we walk

These photographs are of flowers and statues in the Jardin du Luxembourg. They are for Terri’s The Flower Hours (most of the flowers are tulips) and for Dan’s CFFC as these were taken while we walked. We walked approximately 20,000 steps a day for the 6 days I was in Paris.

You can join in Dan’s CFFC challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/04/06/view-as-we-walk-or-hike-cffc/

You can join in Terri’s Flower Hour here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/04/07/the-flower-hour-25-pop-go-the-poppies/

A picture of yellow and white tulips - closeup

White Monument to Leconte de Lisle in a flowerbed of orange and yellow tulips

Picture of me with the Le Faune dansant sculpture in the background in a flowerbed of yellow and orange tulips

Flowerbed of orange and yellow tulips with some white flowers

Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday and CFFC

An unexpected opportunity came up for me to travel to Paris to meet my husband. We will spend Easter together in this fascinating city. This will be my last post other than my committed posts for LatinosUSA and Writing to be Read until my return on 8 April. If you celebrate, wishing you a blessed Easter.

Tanka Tuesday

Melissa’s Tanka Tuesday challenge is to write a Hautt. You can learn more about this form here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/03/24/tankatuesday-challenge-no-57-the-hautt-3-24-26/

Alone

we walk our paths

alone, single file

we find

meaning

temporarily

in partnerships

CFFC – View from Public transportation

You can join in Dan’s CFFC challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/03/30/view-from-public-transportation-cffc/

These are some pictures I took while crossing Westminster Bridge in the taxi. It was so hot, all the windows were wide open. The traffic allowed for decent pictures.

This is my favourite photograph from Japan. It was also taken from a taxi. I opened the window much to the driver’s horror – haha!

Roberta Writes – d’Verse Quadrille: Bird & Poetics, Embodying a Landscape & Thursday Doors

d’Verse Quadrille: Bird

I always enjoy De Jackson’s quadrille challenges. This week, the challenge is to write a poem of exactly 44 words using the word bird.

My mom fell in the early hours of Saturday morning and fractured a rib. It is a ‘blunt instrument’ injury as she tripped over a small step going into the bathroom and fell forward into the wash basin. It’s been a tough week but she seems to be on the mend. A am in the ‘dog box’ for making her do the breathing exercises every hour. They hurt but they are vital.

You can read other poets contributions here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/03/09/quadrille-243-bird-is-the-word/

Damaged Bird

Reading her message

fear swamps me

“I fell last night

I’m in terrible pain

Please come”

When I get there

she’s sitting huddled

a crumpled baby bird

fallen from its nest

Wing broken

Another trip

to the emergency room

God, don’t let this end!

Poetics: Embodying a Landscape

Dora’s challenge is to write a poem embodying a landscape. I’m not sure if I followed the instructions properly (I’m very bad at following instructions) but I have written about how my waterfall painting has led me to a place of perfect peace as I have endured Mom’s fall and a difficult leaving period from my job. This painting has been a significant art undertaking from me. I started it in early December and I’m nearly finished. I’m hoping to be done next weekend. It is my best piece so far and I look forward to sharing the finished piece with you all in due course. In the meantime, I’m sharing a photograph of the waterfall.

You can read other poet’s work here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/03/10/poetics-embodying-a-landscape/

Perfect Peace

muted colours

rainbow shades

dispersed in

soft ripples

of moving water

silver froth

dances over

water slicked rocks

each delicate bubble

tinkling gently

water fairy giggles

my mind empties

as turbulent worries

slip quietly away

and I let go

into perfect peace

Picture caption: My photograph of a waterfall I saw during a hike in the Drakensberg.

Thursday Doors

In early January 2025, my family stayed at a family hotel in the Drakensberg. I specifically wanted to do a short day hike to see the waterfalls and the ‘Grotto”.

These are a few photographs of doors at the hotel, Champagne Sports Resort.

You can join in Dan’s challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/03/12/irish-room-happy-st-patricks-day/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Photography Nature

Hi everyone, it’s Robbie Cheadle here with you today with my December post in the Nature Photography section on LatinosUSA – English Edition.

Next week, I am featuring photographs of Buildings and Architecture.

If you have a photograph to share in the Buildings and Architecture section, please email me at cheadlerobbie@gmail.com and use the title Photography – Buildings and Architecture. Please also include a short write up about your photograph.

Egret at the Beach by Darlene Foster

This beautiful photograph was contributed by children’s author, Darlene Foster. You can find out more about Darlene and her exciting Amanda books on her blog here: https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/

Some of Darlene’s books are on sale until 1 January 2026. You can learn more about it here: https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/end-of-year-book-sale/

Egrets are a type of heron, a long-legged, long-necked, wading bird. They live in freshwater and saltwater habitats, such as marshes and wetlands, where they spend their day wading in shallow water, catching fish and other creatures. Most species form lifelong pair bonds with their mates and nest and roost in mixed species groups. Although they are found on most continents, Egrets avoid the coldest regions, high mountains, and deserts. They nest in tall trees over water with 10 to 30 other pairs. Most species are relatively vocal, making harsh croaking sounds and squeals. They feed in flocks, waiting in shallow water for fish to swim by before thrusting their beaks to catch their prey. Most animals don’t mess with these large birds; they find safety in numbers by staying in large communities. We often see them here in Spain in orchards, on golf courses and by the beaches.

Continue reading here: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/photography-nature-2/

Roberta Writes – Tanka Tuesday, d’Verse & CFFC & Thursday Doors

Tanka Tuesday

This week’s challenge by Melissa, is to write a Double Ennead poem on the theme of gratitude. The syllabic count for a Double Ennead poem is 3 x 3 verses of 6/5/11/6/5.

You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/11/25/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-40-double-ennead-11-25-2025/

Eight Legged Wonder

delicate silver threads

woven skillfully

into a deadly trap for flying insects

flies a favourite meal

of reviled spiders

***

annoying mosquitoes

trapped in sticky thread

succulent dinner for female arachnide

malaria vector

out of commission

***

carrying diseases

from within sewers

cockroaches contaminate human foodstuffs

favourite snack for spiders

which keep numbers down

Colleen has shared an update on 🌻 2025 Sunflower Tanka Anthology 🌻 and the cover. You can read about it here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/11/30/cover-reveal-the-2025-sunflower-tanka-anthology/

d’Verse

Grace’s prompt is to write a Spanish Lira poem. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/11/27/poetry-form-spanish-lira/

Absent Heat

usual summer heat absent

continuous rainfall order of the day

change in weather most welcome

November can be scorching

this year grey cloud is keeping hot sun at bay

CFFC and Thursday Doors

I am late with last week’s CFFC and Thursday Doors post so I’m including it here with this week’s CFFC post.

The four photographs below are of the wharf at Westminster Bridge in London. This is where tourists leave for tours of the River Thames. You can see the London Eye in the background. These are for Dan’s Travel Hubs challenge which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/12/01/travel-hubs-cffc/