Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author Jan Sikes and a review

Posted: August 12, 2026 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Book Review, Interview, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read |Leave a comment

A riverbed with stones, water, and grasses. Text: Treasuring Poetry with Robbie Cheadle and KAye Lynne Booth

I’m delighted to welcome author and poet, Jan Sikes, as this month’s Treasuring Poetry guest. Jan is the author of a significant number of novels, novellas and short stories and she has recently published a collection of short stories and poems including contributions from her late husband, Rick Sikes, and her granddaughter, Sydney.

Welcome Jan

What is your favourite style of poetry?

My favorite style of poetry is free-form, but I do like rhyming and while I don’t know the exact terminology for this type of poetry, it follows a lyrical rhyming pattern of 1,3,5,7 etc. In other words, the first and third lines will rhyme, alternating that way throughout the poem. That’s the easiest for me to write as well. Another way I love to write is alternate rhyming 1&2, then 3&4 like we see in the Frost poem below.

What is your favourite poem?

My favorite poem is from Robert Frost – Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

What inspired you to publish Fringes, heartstrings and lyrics?

The inspiration started with looking at all the short stories I’d published in obscure anthologies throughout the years. I wanted to bring them all together in one book. I also wanted to include some of my late husband’s earliest poems from the 1960s and then as the project came together, my granddaughter shared some of her poetry with me and I was gobsmacked! In the process of gathering material, I found some my own poems that had never been shared anywhere, so I included them as well.

What is the meaning behind fringes in the title?

Since some of the short stories were dystopian or ‘dark’ the Fringes in the title is meant to depict that section. Sometimes what happens on the fringes is powerful and moving. That was the intent for using that word in the title.

What is your favourite poem in this collection?

I have several favorites, but if I had to choose only one, I’d choose “Society” written by my granddaughter. It is very deep for a fourteen-year-old girl. It is truth!

Welcome to society
We hope you enjoy your stay
You can do anything you want
As long as you do it our way

You can like any guy
As long as he’s 6 foot 2
He must have ocean blue eyes
And a six-figure business too

Here in society, people are the same
‘Cause if you’re different you’re weird
You’ll sit at a table all alone
Kids will laugh and point and sneer

Our government sucks but you can’t revolt
There’s this cage we call a jail
You just have to sit and suffer
So try not to slip up and fail

And please feel free to be yourself
As long as it’s in the right way
Because in society, things work differently
Every single day

Welcome to society
We’ve got one last trick up our sleeve
The last important rule here
Is that you can never leave

My review of Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes

Picture caption: Book cover of Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics by Jan Sikes with gold lettering on a cover in shades of blue.

This is a varied and interesting collection of short stories and poems by Jan Sikes with poetry contributions by her late husband, Rick Sikes, and her Granddaughter, Sidney. The stories transition from darker tales to lighter ones with the first grouping being mainly bleak dystopian outlooks where love and kindness are the only remaining hope.

Each of the three poets contributes thought provoking and beautiful poems about life, love, and human perspective. I enjoyed each and every poem.

An overview of three of my favourite stories follows:

The Forgotten – This is an imaginative and unique story about a race of people, the Egluna, on a planet that has not seen the the sun for many moons. The people have become as wasted and colourless as their planet and have lost hope. New hope returns in the form of two vibrant and colourful creatures, one male and the other female, called ‘Fresh Ones’. The pair have powers and are able to reinvigorate the dying plant life on the planet. Will the couple be able to rejuvenate hope in the future for the Egluna too. I enjoyed this interesting take on climate change and its potential consequences.

A Promise Broken – A Promise Kept – While this story stands alone, it is also the backstory for a character who reappears in one of the author’s novels. I have read the relevant novel and was delighted to come across this character in her younger years and learn about her past and how it shaped her present in that novel. Charlotte’s story is one of strength, resilience and maturity.

When Love isn’t Enough – This is another story about difficult decisions arising from rebellion due to an overbearing and inflexible father. Riley is fortunate as she has a friend she can confide in and get good advice from but ultimately she has to make the right decision herself. This story has an interesting and unexpected ending.

The poem that resonated with me the most is called Too Dark and is by Sydney. This poem tells of the reaction of the poet’s mother and family to a dark poem that she is proud of. Her family are shocked at the poems darkness. I related to this because my son writes poetry and it is also very dark. I am always a bit shocked by the darkness of his views and thoughts on life and society. I think all the negative social media and press is having a negative impact on youngsters and making them feel hopeless. It is something the older generations needs to be aware of. We need to avoid complaining about what a bad state we think the world is in as it has a bad effect on our children and grandchildren.

An interesting collection that is well worth the time investment.

Purchase Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Fringes-Heartstrings-Lyrics-Jan-Sikes-ebook/dp/B0GRWQC3SH/

Find all of Jan Sike’s books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jan-Sikes/author/B00CS9K8DK

About Jan Sikes

Picture caption: Author photograph of Jan Sikes

I’ve been an avid reader all my life. There’s nothing I love more than losing myself in a story.

Oddly enough, I had no ambition to be a writer. But I wound up in mid-life with a story that begged to be told. Not just any story, but a true story that rivaled any fiction creation. Through fictitious characters, the tale came to life in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books. Not satisfied to stop with the books, I released music CDs of original music matching the time period of each story segment. In conclusion, to bring the story full circle, I published a book of poetry and art. I was done.

Wrong!

The story ideas keep coming, and I don’t intend to turn off the creative fountain. I have now written numerous short stories, a series of paranormal romances and a series of historical fiction.

I love all things metaphysical and often include those aspects in my stories.

I am an dedicated fan of Texas music and grandmother of five beautiful souls. I reside in North Texas.

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author picture

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.