I didn’t create the elusive—perhaps imaginary Black Stallion until this year. After reading and reviewing numerous “other worldly” short-story collections, I considered interweaving an image within this tale that would serve as one more metaphor. Initially, the title included “Dark Horse” as an allusion to the stereotypical racehorse who appears to be a loser—but then takes first place at the end of the run. 

Thus, might the Dark Horse be an image of the Boulder environment in the late 1970s? At that time, the city had grown from the college town hosting many 1960s demonstrations, some violent, wherein radicals damaged stores on The Hill. Yet a decade later, this once “dark” town had grown and progressed into a winning environment. (It continues to do so. Last year (2025), it was voted by a majority as the most desirable location to live in the U.S.) 

Further, the novel’s characters gather regularly at The Horse, a bar that’s more a three-story entertainment center than the standard western bar. The Horse is especially Ched’s hangout. Because Charli leaves the small city before Ched does, he could be the Dark Horse waiting in Boulder. 

Then, the fantasy (or is it?) of the Black, blue-eyed Stallion adds another level of meaning—Charli’s vision of a world beyond our material reality. It’s significant, too, that Ched, like many persons, doesn’t believe blue-eyed stallions exit. O but they do—albeit rarely. And considering that Charli sees herself as a loser of a wife at the novel's onset—then later in her relationship with Ched, might she be the Dark Horse who wins in the end?

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and blogger Carol Anne

Posted: May 13, 2026 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Interview, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Book Review, Interview, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 54 Comments

Today I am delighted to introduce you to poet and blogger Carol Anne from Therapy Bits blog. Carol Anne writes beautiful and thought provoking poetry as well as posts providing insight into living with dissociative identity disorder, complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder.

Welcome Carol Anne

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to write poetry. What does your poetry mean to you?

My name is Carol Anne, it is a pen name, I’m 46, and I live in Ireland. I have always been a writer, from a very young age, I wrote poetry. I am a child abuse survivor, I am also diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder. I am also blind.  I write mostly to raise awareness of dissociative identity disorder, complex PTSD, and blindness, I’ve also written a lot of poems about healing after child abuse.  My poetry is partly my therapy, it helps me to cope.

What is your favourite style of poetry to read?

I love reading free verse, senryu’s, haiku’s, and basically any poem that the writer has shared, it is the raw emotion in the poetry that I love to read about.

Share your favourite poem in your favourite style by another poet.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Emily Dickenson

What is your favourite of your own poems and why?

My favourite poem is I am a puzzle. Here it is. It describes what living with dissociative identity disorder is like.

I Am A Puzzle by Carol Anne

I am a puzzle

with pieces that don’t fit

every way you try

you will get nowhere with it

the whole picture is not shown

on the box or it’s lid

and I hate to tell the truth

I’ve been this way since I was a kid

Absorbed in the puzzle

I lose all track of time

Anxiety over takes me

As though I’ve committed a crime

Is it wrong to be more than one

The puzzle pieces scatter on the floor

As I turn over the table and run for the door

I am running scared,

trying to get away

the pieces fall to the ground

and stay where they lay

some of the pieces overlap

while others are alone

when I look at the pieces

I am chilled to the bone

How will I ever put together

All that is broken

When all I have to go on

Are secrets that are spoken

These are my only clues

to the misfit puzzle pieces here

and I am half way out the door

denial in it’s most sincere

Left on the floor in disarray

The pieces try to call to me

I turn my back on them

Why can’t they just leave me be

I walk back to the table

And turn it right side up

I gather all the puzzle pieces

Making my hand like a cup

They shower down onto the table

And I vow to give it one more try

But I don’t know where to begin

I can only ask why

July 2013

Why do you blog? What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I blog to raise awareness of mental health, disability, and to help myself to release my feelings. Blogging has connected me with lots of people from all around the world, that is one reason I love it, also, I love to get feedback on my writing.

What’s next for Carol Anne?

I’m in the process of collecting some of my poems and putting them into a book. I’d also like to work more on writing some fiction, I do write fiction, but I feel I need more practice at it.

About Carol Anne

This is Carol Anne’s introduction on her blog:

Hi

My name is Carol anne.  I am part of a did system. Did stands for dissociative identity disorder.  I also have PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder. I was diagnosed with did in December 2010.

I have been blind since birth. I am 35 years old.

This is a blog about my life, it will mainly focus on therapy and the process of going through psychotherapy, but I will also post some stuff about my life.

I am in college studying IT.  It has its challenges but overall I love it.

Blog: https://therapybits.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolanne.johnsonmunchy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manyofus40/

About Robbie Cheadle

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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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons: https://books2read.com/PT6Seasons

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