Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Yvette Prior and a book review #Poetrylovers #readingcommunity @bookreview
Posted: September 21, 2022 Filed under: Author Profile, Bird Watching, Book Review, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry, Women's Fiction and Poetry | Tags: Author Interview, Avian Friends, Book Review, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read, Yvette Prior 61 Comments
Today, I am very excited to welcome Yvette Prior from Priorhouse blog as my September Treasuring Poetry guest. Yvette is among the first bloggers I met when I started Robbie’s Inspiration and she was always encouraging and supportive of my artwork and writing. Thank you, Yvette.
Today, Yvette, a talented poet and author herself and a huge supporter of other writers and bloggers, is going to share some of her thoughts about poetry and some readings from her lovely poetry book, Avian Friends.
What is your favourite poem and why?
Winter Chill
Stood and listened
to birds tweet and whistle
had breakfast to make
day to begin
stuff to do
but standing
in winter chill
at the back door
harmony
stopped me
hope flew in
melodious infusing during a winter chill
trees still bare
yet birds were there
dulcet air
momentary loss of care
cold days
soon to part ways
winter hard is exiting
birds returning
spring soon erupting
green grass, pleasant breeze
flowers, butterflies, bees
replacing freeze
shivering, I shut the door
musical deliverance once more
Behind the poem
Winter Chillwas written about a brief experience I had when I opened the backdoor one winter’s day. I was stopped in my tracks. It was the first time I had heard the birds in a long time and their “harmony stopped me” as “hope flew in.” I am not what people would refer to as a “birder.” I do not put out seeds and we don’t have any feeders on our property (although I might add some later). The birds have just found a nice little habitat on their own and I am grateful. In this poem, I described the scene exactly as it unfolded -opened the door, heard the birds, and I was reminded that a better season was on its way. This idea could apply to more than just a cold weather season ending – it could also apply to the trials and heavy times in life. Challenging times do not last forever and sometimes we might just need to pause – in the midst of a difficult season – and find small (healthy) ways to enjoy “momentary loss of care.” Hope can mean so much too – and so anytime we have Hope fly in – let’s embrace it.
Please share a poem you enjoy and why you enjoy it
This is just to say by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
***
and which
you were probably
saving for breakfast
***
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
Williams’ poem whispers so much to me and one takeaway is the freedom someone felt to indulge in the plum. There are times we sacrifice times we do outreach and hold back – but this depicts the opposite – it shows us someone so comfortable with the other person where they ate the plum (while knowing the person was saving it). The poem makes me smile because I can imagine how juicy and tasty it was. And the title and tone of the poem lets us know that the consumer here is not apologizing for eating it either. That’s my take.
What are your plans for your poetry going forward?
I try to write every day, in a paper notebook, and most of this year I have been busy working on non-poetry projects so I only wrote a handful of poems this year. My goal is to get back to my musings with poetry. Even if all of the poems do not make it into a future book, I enjoy writing them.
I started writing in middle school but really got into poetry while in college. In between classes, I created free verse poems. I moved words around andenjoyed simple rhyming schemes.
I know that folks sometimes put down the easy rhymes, but I like them. It is not about creating difficult poetry for me – it really is a type of solitude with words and ideas.
Thank you, Yvette, for your lovely answers and for being my guest today.
Yvette has shared a lovely YouTube video recital of some of her poems from Avian Friends.
My review of Avian Friends by Yvette Prior
What Amazon says
In Avian Friends, you will find more than forty poems that offer encouragement and uplifting stories. The poems are free rhyme and connect to different life scenarios. Each poem also includes a “behind the poem” section, which provides personal reflections, teaching tidbits, and ideas for wellness. Backyard birds inspired the poems and the topic of faith has been gently woven in (not in a religious way) with the hope that diverse readers can enjoy the content.
The poems in this book are not complicated poems; instead, they are light and can lift the reader’s mood. The poems are for those who do not always read poetry – as well as for the poetry lover.
My review
Avian Friends is a delightful book of poetry that centres around the author’s interactions with birds in her personal life. In the reactions and interactions of her avian friends, the author finds threads of similarity to human reactions to circumstances and experiences and in relationships. She weaves these thoughts into the observations expressed in her poems.
One of the most interesting section of poems for me where the ones written following the death of a young and close relative. The author’s grief is palpable and her understanding of nature and the role of all creatures in the cycle of life help her come to terms with her sorrow and emotions.
An verse from Part III Life and Death:
“The nest was found
on the ground after the storm
nestlings didn’t make it
we mourned
fuzzy little creatures
oversized eyes
chests without air
buried with care
patting down soil
reminded me that we, too, will die …”
I have referred to the poet as the author because there is a lot of reflective prose in this book. Each poem is followed by a discussion which provides the poet’s inspiration for the poem, and includes quotes and information about birds and other aspects of life that contribute to the meaning behind the poem. I really enjoyed these explanatory sections and gleaned a lot of insight into the poet’s emotions and thought process from it.
Enjoyment of this book is certainly not limited to people who love birds as, in many instances, the birds are a metaphor for human life. This book will be enjoyed by all lovers of poetry.
Purchase Avian Friends
Amazon paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Avian-Friends-Yvette-Prior-Ph-D/dp/1973831228
Amazon kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Avian-Friends-Encouraging-inspired-Backyard-ebook/dp/B07QHNZF81
About Yvette Prior
Yvette Prior lives on the East Coast of the United States with her spouse, Chris, and together they have three adult children, two grandchildren, and no pets (after having many dogs over the years).
Yvette enjoys working with people and her varied work background includes education, social work, hospitality management, and lots of outreach. Her passion area is studying about health and wellness and after earning a Ph.D. in I-O Psychology, she poured into waiting book projects and she has not stopped writing since.
Her goal as a writer is to educate, edify, and encourage readers. Her personal blog can be found at priorhouse.wordpress.com
About Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with eleven children’s books and two poetry books.
The eight Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie and Michael have also written Haunted Halloween Holiday, a delightful fantasy story for children aged 5 to 9 about Count Sugular and his family who hire a caravan to attend a Halloween party at the Haunted House in Ghost Valley. This story is beautifully illustrated with Robbie’s fondant and cake art creations.
Robbie has published two books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has two adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories, in the horror and paranormal genre, and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie Cheadle contributes two monthly posts to https://writingtoberead.com, namely, Growing Bookworms, a series providing advice to caregivers on how to encourage children to read and write, and Treasuring Poetry, a series aimed at introducing poetry lovers to new poets and poetry books.
In addition, Roberta Eaton Cheadle contributes one monthly post to https://writingtoberead.com called Dark Origins: African Myths and Legends which shares information about the cultures, myths and legends of the indigenous people of southern Africa.
Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com. where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.
Find Robbie Cheadle
Blog: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog: robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com
Twitter: BakeandWrite
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Facebook: Sir Chocolate Books
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Writing to be Read 
Thanks for featuring Yvette and letting us learn a bit more about her. She has been a very supportive friend in the blog world. It’s always nice to learn more about the people we only know through words.
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HI Dan, thank you for visiting. Yvette is a lovely blogging friend and I was delighted to discover she had this beautiful book of poetry.
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Dan thanks for the nice comment and it was fun to have Robbie share about this book.
It brought back the memories of putting it together in 2017 and seeing the idea come to life (even tho it was also inspired partly by loss of life)
🙏😊
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Many things feed our creative spirit, Yvette. Perhaps it’s how we work through loss.
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Well said !
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Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
Today, I am delighted to feature blogger, poet and writer, Yvette Prior from Priorhouse blog, as my Treasuring Poetry guest. Thank you for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth
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Thank you for another wonderful post, Robbie. You always present us with such delightful guests.
And a big welcome to Yvette. 🙂 I’m an avid birdwatcher, so this book of verse naturally intrigues me. I am right there with you about letting nature inspire us. It often does me. Especially when it comes to poetry.
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Hi Kaye, I am delighted you enjoyed this post. Yvette is a lovely writer and blogger.
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Hi Kaye…. I knew you were a nature lover and so you would appreciate how I didn’t appreciate the birds and then I did!
The power of nature can be felt in this book- – and how I went from being annoyed by the backyard birds to then admiring them
So now I get more of what you bird watchers love!!
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Great to see Yvette featured here and to learn more about her poetry process. Journaling every day is hard to do, but I think that’s where the creativity begins.
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Hi Barbara, I agree that journaling every day takes a lot of self discipline. I am delighted you enjoyed this post.
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Hi Book Club Mom
My journaling every day has become such a habit and so it feels easy
I should add that I do fast from both baking at times and can miss a whole month – but I usually fill a 100 page notebook per month (with a lot of silky stuff – like how I slept and the weather – lol – rather boring)
And then when I used to teach on ground college classes that started at 8 am- there was no journaling because it was about getting out the door!
—
And I know daily journaling is not for everyone (like not my spouse’s thing) but it does come easy for me
–
Thanks and wishing you both a great day
🙏💛
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I used to keep a journal, but then I got so busy! Maybe now is a good time to start back up 🙂
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Well it might not be for everyone – to journal –
And my husband has only kept one twice in our 20+ years
But it is not his thing at all
And the first journal he kept – late 1990s – was more of a bullet list kind of entry – and he would give himself grades for various areas (clever idea he got from someone else) and then would ask me what I thought about his grades
Oh and one more journal thought – my yoga teacher said he spouse is doing journaling to specifically work through an area –
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I think they can be both useful and cathartic!
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🙂 well said
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i.e. teen diaries 😉
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yes!
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Fantastic poetic selections! I shall have to check out Yvette’s books for sure. Wishing Yvette all the best. Thanks so much for sharing, Robbie. Hugs 💕🙂
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Hi Harmony, I am so pleased you enjoyed this post and Yvette’s poetry selections. Have a lovely evening. Hugs.
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Hi Harmony / I need to check out your books too! And I have been following you all this year and look forward to getting to know you more (I like your reviews)
And wishing you a great day
(And I just realized your name made it into the post – it was in the poem I chose to share from the book – Harmony is such a beautiful name)
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I noticed the name! I’m enjoying getting to know you more too, Yvette. Hugs 💕🙂
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Hugs bag!
😊📚💛
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How lovely to be introduced to Yvette and her remarkable works. Thank you, Robbie!
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Hi Annette, I am so pleased you enjoyed the post. Yvette is a lovely blogger, poet and writer.
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Good luck to Yvette with her new book. I have shared both posts on Twitter, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you, Pete.
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Hi author Pete – thanks for your comment – and this book is actually five years old but still has a life keeping it afloat – and I am so happy about that – such a simple book but sometimes that is exactly what was needed
–
📚😊
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I must have missed the age of the book, but a good book never ages! 🙂
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💛📚😊
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I enjoyed learning more about Yvette and her poetry. I LOVED the video and appreciated her message at the end to get out and enjoy the wonders nature has to offer. I shall follow her advice!
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Hi Liz, I am very pleased to know that. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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Hi, Robbie. You’re welcome!
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Hi Liz! Thanks for the comment about the ending note!
It brings a smile because I had tech issues the night I was trying to make a video for Robbie’s post – and so on the very last take – I added that closing note and it brought a smile to hear it resonated –
And as a nature lover I think you already know how many folks are missing out on the powerful boost nature offers –
We can’t be outside all the time but many need to get out more – their wellness depends on it!
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You’re most welcome, Yvette! Getting out in nature has always had the effect of keeping me grounded.
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😊
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Thank you Robbie for introducing Yvette to us. I love the poetry that she has shared. Wishing her all the best.
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HI Balroop, thank you. I only found out Yvette had a book of poetry recently and I am pleased to be able to promote it here.
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Hi Balroop! – I think that you know that your poetry book (that Jacqui featured) is on my TBR list!
So I’ll keep you posted –
And thanks again Robbie –
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Thank you so much, I am delighted to hear that! Looking forward to your views. 🤗
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💛😊
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💞
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It’s good to learn more about Yvette. I always enjoy her posts. (K)
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HI Kerfe, yes, Yvette writes lovely and interesting posts. I didn’t actually know she had a poetry book until I read a review of it on another blog.
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Thanks for reading K!
And Robbie – I actually sneak poems into most of my books
And in hindsight I see that the poetry chapters in two of my books might have been better off as books on their own!
—
Anyhow / your series Robbie really does make us TREASURE poetry more!
I was moving away from it the last 18 months and this feature post reminded me to get back to it –
So thanks for that Robbie
And wishing you a great day K!
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Hi Yvette, I am glad this series and post has rekindled your interest in poetry. I find that I struggle to write poetry when my mind is overstimulated. I write most of my poems when I am away in the bush. I take a pencil and notepad on the safari vehicle with me and write as we travel about. I do love poetry very much.
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Wow! Your setting for poetry sounds awesome – and for me – I think I write it better when overstimulated –
-/
And not sure if you experienced this but I have noticed that once the poems start flowing – they flow more and more – like a drip to a faucet
But then it depends on the type of poetry too!
—
Oh and best wishes with your African poems! Sounds like a great book
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Hi Yvette, I also write poetry in waves and it gets easier and easier.
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I love how poetry is so unique to the writer and I also think that some poems are WAY BETTER SPOkEN and then some poems are better read- which I am sure you know what I mean
And A while ago I heard an African American poet recite his poem on a radio program – it was kind of like he sang it to beat and it was about how he used to be a bully and is not anymore – it was powerful !
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Hi Yvette, that sounds like a wonderful way to share a poem. I always think songs are just poems set to music.
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Robbie – you are so right about song lyrics as poems!
Maybe we should put some of your African poems to a beat?? Haha – just kidding – but I d hope all of your writing projects are going well!
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Robbie – THANK YOU so much for seeing something in Avian Friends that led to this feature on “Writing to be Read”
And part of the success of this book is how I have away free copies and let it be shared on Kindle –
It didn’t boost sales but it allowed the book to rank on Amazon but more importantly – allowed it to be read –
—
I am still a little sad about the loss of my nephew – even tho I know I’ll connect with him again in heaven and he might be part of the “cloud of witnesses around us”
And part of the success of the book might be that grief connection and so I really love the way you mentioned that in this post!
—
I feel edified and honored to have this feature post!
💛💛💛
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Hi Yvette, the loss of a young person is always so sad and unexpected. Having nearly lost both of my boys, at one time or another, I really related to those poems. They are very beautiful. I am glad you liked my review.
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I am glad you didn’t lose your boys – and just said a prayer for them a few days ago – for strength and health (it was after our mini chat with the health post and when Shelley shared)
Anyhow – hope your entire family is doing well and sending good vibes your way! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😊
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So nice to see Yvette featured here today Robbie. I enjoyed the poems, even more so learning the inspiration behind them. Congrats to Yvette ❤
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Hi Debby, I really like the inspiration behind Yvette’s poems too.
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No doubts Robbie. Hugs x
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Hi Robbie,
Thank you for introducing Yvette and I loved her poems shared in this post. The video is beautiful, and since my husband and I strive to get outdoors as much as we can to camp, backpack, or simply hike, her message truly resonates. I look forward to reading her book. Congratulations, Yvette! 💗
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Hi Lauren, a lot of your poems are also inspired by nature and I love that 💕
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I love Yvette’s poems. They are so vibrant and reflect the moment so well! Oh, and I have a soft spot for Williams Carlos Williams as well. A fabulous review as well, Robbie. Congratulations all around!
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Hi Olga, I am so pleased you enjoyed this post and Yvette’s poetry. I enjoyed her book very much. I just loved her YT reading and I was so pleased she did one for this post.
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