Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet, Ray Whitaker, and a review
Posted: September 9, 2026 Filed under: Collection, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Animals, Author Interview, Book Review, Poetry, Ray Whitaker, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read 27 Comments
Today, I am delighted to welcome poet and editor of Masticadores Canada, Ray Whitaker, as my September Treasuring Poetry guest. You can find Masticadores Canada here: https://masticadorescanada.wordpress.com/ and the general submission guidelines are here: https://masticadorescanada.wordpress.com/submissions-guidelines/.
Tell us a bit about Ray Whitaker and your journey to becoming a poet.
All writers and poets are writing out of “the Self” however there are directions that the self speaks into, that change. Now Ray’s writing is to put foremost in his work, just who he is writing for. He intends on writing for the everyday man and woman. He firmly believes that poems need to reach into the everyday person’s pictures in their minds, and engage with those. This is where he aims to make a difference in his creative writing. He’s fulfilled when he sees that his work is provoking thought in his readers. Ray has six books published, and two chapbooks. His work has been published in fourteen different countries. He’s working on two new manuscripts now.
Ray was a Delegate to both the 2023-24 Writer’s International Panorama Festival in January, and is a Delegate to the 2025 Festival He participates regularly with several zoom poetic events worldwide. Among them, he has been spotlighted on a US National Poetry broadcast from Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio In April, ’24; and also an International Poetry Recital hosted by The Fertile Minds out of India this past April 19th, 2025. In May ‘26 he was the reading featured poet in David Leo Sirois’ Spoken Word Online, associated with Spoken Word Paris. He was a one of the featured Poets on Mayori Literature associated
with Poetry Global Network this past August. He is Moderator for Michael Lee Johnson’s FB “My Voice,Your Words- Poetry In Action” page; and Editor for Masticadores Canada Journal.
Can be found at FB: Whitjr1, his personal website is “raywhitakerpoet.com” and at Masticadores Canada. wordpress.masticadores.canada.com
What is your favourite style for writing poems and why?
I have to say that my favorite style, or form, of poetry writing is American Freestyle. I do not stick to a particular form, which is how I have lived my life as well. Being rather disciplined about being un-disciplined, I have continually engaged this “form” as a Poet.
I have written poems in several different forms. However, do not consider the sonnets I have written to fine examples of that form. Haiku is another form, that I feel my works are pretty good.
If I ever take a Masters degree in Creative Writing, it is possible that that educational endeavor will expose me to the many other forms of Poetry. Here, I must also say that I have a difficult time considering myself as a “Poet”. I am well-read in preceding poets, altho there are many I still intend to read the work of. I am continually humbled by the Men and Women Poets that have walked before me. There is a part of me that resides in comparison with these acclaimed individuals, and I always wonder how history will judge my work.
Which of your own poem is your favourite?
Ahh, this is a hard Q to answer.
I have a handful of poems that I consider especially near and dear. You want one to suffice to answer this Q. So I will attempt to choose one!
After much soul searching, here are two [I simply cannot choose one!]:
The first piece, NO WAR, is a honest memorial to my own Father. Written many years ago. He was my hero, as I was coming along, and even to this day. His examples still resides in me, those of courage, determination, resilience and ability.
The second piece, BLACK BISON, is a current favorite of mine. Written last month, in August. It reflects a couple of my loves:
–my memories of dreams, that I write down every morning after waking.
–my love for Nature and it’s remarkable diversity, my awe of God’s creations.
NO WAR
My Father did not plant fruit trees
or a garden with any sort of vegetable,
like a tomato plant, or peppers.
It was I that planted, harvested all of that.
His example did not lodge with me
never having flown down from the sky
wrapped in a fighter plane
machine guns blazing towards a ground confined enemy
they there, trembling in fear, hiding from
his bullets and bombs thrown while in God’s bubble.
I loved him so, yet my path differed
the healing arts chose me as sure as water churns in rapids
born unafraid of cleaning up lacerations, wiping blood from torn flesh
when someone’s life was seeping away
staunching the flow
with giving a damn ever present, it was
acceptable risk to be in combat with purulent infection
.
He was a great man even having never planted a plum tree
his bravery and deciding loving family decisions made
did lodge with me, so it is now that he is gone
as it was when he, my best friend, was still here amongst us
his courage tempered my abundant compassion
like the wind rippling the fall colors
in an autumn high plains field.
I can’t fly a fighter plane
or command a tactical sortie in dive bombing a bridge
I have come home with blood on my scrubs tho
bearing stains from other’s wounds, having worked
like a mule plowing furrows, towards healing Life’s casualties
and I have planted plum trees, some were for him
his face peering out from the green leaves
feeling his hands on the shovel with mine.
BLACK BISON
Out of the grey mists of dreams
he approached me
friendly, stepping carefully
to stand silently beside
nuzzled me in friendship
no words were spoken
even so, there was a communication
on these green grassy plains
daylight, now under a blue sky
few clouds going where they will
a sudden gentle breeze blew
while we were standing together.
I put my arm around his great neck
a loving embrace
like between two friends,
a closeness unrivaled
beast and human
not threatening
as in a natural place
without fear.
Black bison then spoke to me
out of the times and places
his story was quite clear
about the millions of his clan murdered
for skins and bones,
of the mountains of skulls piled,
and the shock
of The First Peoples.
Then we spoke about the strength of endurance
the hidden qualities of independent self reliance
the answered prayers when abundance appeared
of prosperity
a sign of depth
a grounding for the unknown future.
There was no longer a mist about,
dapper sunlight beat down
upon our faces.
A sense of purpose
towards the highest
those hunting grounds of the conscious,
the resilience of the qualities of twoness
our eyes met, again
speaking, Human
told Bison of the path
toward that place
where thoughts were as a dream
when The Peace was sought and found
there Human and Bison lived together
and did not have
the hypocrisy of carelessness
of the weakness producing impatience
of oversensitive intolerance
where prayers were for the tremendous events
within the Great Mystery.
Which poem by another poet is your favourite?
Another difficult Q to answer. Did you stay up nights dreaming up Q’s that were incredibly rich, for folks like us to answer?
I have around 150 books of Poetry on my library shelves. There are many from The Dead Poets Society [credit given to Robin William’s movie by the same name], as well as the flock of remarkable Poets writing today. I really love many of them.
Among them, I should mention a few of my “Poet Heroes.” These are the Poets I really love, their many works, and are the ones I am going to choose that answer to this incredibly difficult Q. They are The Irishman Seamus Heaney, the American Billy Collins, the Swede Tomas Transtormer, the Native American N.
Scott Momaday, the American Woman Mary Oliver…. are but a few.
You really are going to make me choose one…. hmmm….
I recently lost a Dear Cousin, and was asked to read a poem at her funeral. This is the one, by Tomas Transtormer:
THE HALF FINISHED HEAVEN, by Tomas Transtormer
from his book by the same name, 2001, Greywolf Press, pp 23.
Cowardice breaks off on its path.
Anguish breaks off on its path.
The vulture breaks off in its flight.
The eager light runs into the open
even ghosts take a drink.
And our paintings see the air,
red beasts of ice-age studios.
Everything starts to look around.
We go out in the sun by hundreds.
Every person is a half-open door
leading to a room for everyone.
The endless field under us.
Water glitters in the trees.
The lake is a window into the earth.
What’s next for Ray Whitaker?
I have discovered a new true love in my late sixties. It isn’t a Woman; I have been lucky enough to have two real loves with significant Women in my Life. Both of them are gone now. Now in my seventies, it is the writing of poems. In my mantra of undisciplined discipline, I choose to do something creative every day.
So, look for a new book of poems most every year, a regular highlighting of other Poets worth reading, and a developing interest in getting out there -Globally- with my own Poems.
My review of Animals by Ray Whitaker
I have enjoyed some of this poet’s writing on-line so I was pleased to see he had some published collections. When I saw the title and blurb for Animals I was thrilled as I am a huge animal lover. I was not disappointed as this book is packed full of wonderful tributes to the fauna that inhabits Ray Whitaker’s world. The collection also features glorious word pictures of the landscapes comprising the eastern range of the Rockies in Colorado. I have never visited this part of the world but the poet’s descriptions left me feeling as if I was experiencing it all in person.
The poems cover a wide range of experiences of the natural kingdom from rare and shy wild animals to domestic pets and also working animals. One of the poems about the amazing relationship between a dog and his human that has stayed with me is Warrior Loves a Dog. This is a short extract from this powerful poem:
“he and his dog sense
they could be, just perhaps
are but one in the present
and also in the past,
bridging a Love so absent
in those red enemy skies”
On the other side of the coin of the animal world are wild creatures in the wilderness. This extract is from a poem called In a Tent on the Bear Preserve and captures the joy of camping in a bear preserve and experiencing a bear in its natural environment from a close proximity:
“The Black Bear walked nearby on the lake’s rocky shore,
Careless in moving stones about
her tracks distinguish, define
there are no fish to catch in this place.
The tracks move away from where the waves lap
vanishing as silent as a leaf falling in the wood.”
Other poems pay tribute to the rivers and mountains. One such poem is Two Rivers which describes the power of two rivers meeting and joining forces becoming “one mighty flow.”
There are also some reflections on the benefits of engaging with nature and embracing its harmony and peace. Walking That Old Road Again is one such poem and I loved this verse:
“You can sit on the place of the broad, open bank
with your feet in the water
sunlight and water splashing on wet toes, it’s just sterling
wondering where next is it you need to go,
to continue to grow,
which path is there, to take you to destiny cares.”
A beautiful collection that will bring peace and gratitude into your heart and soul.
Purchase Animals by Ray Whitaker from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/ANIMALS-Poems-Ray-Whitaker/dp/B0F3TYTCFN
About Ray Whitaker
I have long aspired to be a writer since I was young. Throughout my writing journey, I struggled with finding my voice. When I wrote my first fantasy book Dragon’s Breath I discovered my voice for the first time. Writing fantasy for young adults has become a passion of mine. I hope to create more work in the future that people can enjoy. With enough hard work and effort, anyone can archive their goals.
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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LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: A Review
Posted: September 2, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Poetry, Review | Tags: Backstories, Book Reveiw, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Maryfrances Wagner, Poetry, Writing be Read 1 Comment
Backstories Poems by Maryfrances Wagner A REVIEW by Lindsey Martin-Bowen
No doubt, this collection by established teacher and poet Maryfrances Wagner reveals
stories may rightfully appear in the form of poetry, too. Certainly, these 52 poems evoke laughter, tears, and definite insights to the chaotic world of high school students from the late 1960s though the 2000s.
For Wagner, teaching was a lifelong quest. “In third grade, I told my family I wanted to be a teacher,” she recalls. Thus, Wagner requested a desk for Christmas, and received a fine roll-top. The next year, she requested a chalk board and received one.
Then, she asked for books, “so I could start creating lessons.”
By sixth grade, she employed these tools to teach neighborhood children a week of “Bible school.”
“The passion never ebbed, I walked into my first year of high school juniors as
though I’d been teaching for years,” she recalled. “After all, I had, but what I didn’t know was how much I would learn about my students, myself, human nature, and inequality during the years I taught.”
The section of poems about—and sometimes written by—her students, opens with “Chuck,” a student in one of her high school classes, who
“. . .takes a seat so close he taps my desk.
Every day a Polo, dress pants, buttery loafers . . .
He’s 18, I’m 21. He doesn’t treat me as his teacher
ready to discuss Lord of the Flies. Behind his silky
voice and Gucci shoes, I see his mean. He instigates
fights and whacks small boys, particularly Juan—”
The poem entails what happens when the bully Chuck attacked the scholarly Juan (somewhat equivalent to “Piggy” in Lord of the Flies) in the restroom, resulting in an ambulance arriving at the high school. Wagner’s poem notes that when “the gurney arrived, Juan
was unconscious. Chuck earned his last credits
on Homebound. Juan’s parents moved to Texas.
A door had opened into a new darkness. . .”
Yet, such a traumatic experience didn’t stop Wagner from pursuing her dream. In her journals, she never quit, but documented these and other events, which she later transformed into poems.
Obviously, most of the poems don’t contain such violence, and the collection includes humorous events, sorrowful, and ironic passages in four sections, interlaced with collages Wagner created, among them, “Future?” “That Fault in Ourselves” (which includes a photo of Julius Caesar’s bust”), “Up a Tree,” containing a photo of the cover for A Separate Peace, “Hope,” including Dickinson’s line ‘hope is the thing with feathers,” “Homework,” which centers around a profile of a youth with the word “Promise” across its forehead.
Indeed, the humorous and thoughtful poems especially caught my attention, such as in, “My Sophomores View the Eclipse,” wherein the class “set aside Brutus’s soliloquy” (from Julius Caesar) “to poke pinholes into paper, tear a second sheet for viewing. . .” and “Worthy of her role as Casca, Emily stabs her paper five times.”
Plus, Wagner includes a found poem that evokes chuckles, “The Sophomores Study Grammar: A Found Poem,” containing such delightful lines as
“Why do we have to study grammar? We already
know how to speak and understand each other.
“You expect us to learn all this in one unit?
I’ve never heard of a verbal in all my life, only gerbils.”
One of the most fascinating sections of this collection includes “The Detention Suite,” comprising poems written solely by students during detention. Here, Wagner reveals she was a teacher “ahead of her time.” How so? Rather than using the school’s standard detention room, she designed her own detention, wherein, in lieu of punishment, student were encouraged to explore why they “acted out.”
I endorse such wisdom: Perhaps by learning how to understand and better meet their emotional needs, “problem” students may more easily grow into adults in lieu of into narcissists, who must—and often cruelly—demand center stage. And not only that, reading these poems by students evoked many chuckles. These are the openings of
some of my favorites:
“Brandon Langford Talks Through Detention”
“. . . I don’t even understand why I have detention.
You tell us to say what we think. I spoke
my thoughts, and that’s my right. My dad
does it all the time, freedom of speech,
and we cheer. Well, we did. He’s a combat vet,
but now he’s in prison for child porn
and hitting my mom. She’s glad he’s gone. . . ”
“Danielle Dances in a Mosh Pit”
“What did you do
last weekend?
You probably
sharpened pencils
or bought
new red pens.
I’m only
kidding.
Me and Carly went
to a headbanger
and danced
in a mosh pit.
We were the only
girls in there. . .”
“Niki Comes in Complaining”
“I still don’t why I’m here. I’m one of your best
students, I turn in my work, and I read the dreadful
literature you assign us like it means something
to me. I probably should zip my mouth before I say
what I think, but how can I relate to Hester Pryne? . . .”
“Scott Whittington II Stoops to Detention”
“I should not have to be here.
Do you know who my father is?
He has a street named after him.
He could get you into so much trouble.
At the least, you can expect a call. . .”
“Holly Keeps on Talking through Detention”
“Well, here I am, nd I’m gonna try not to talk
nonstop since that’s the reason I’m here, but
you know me. Mostly, I can’t help myself like
when Jeff Bell was nominated for homecoming
queen. That was big news. . .”
“Libby Steps in for Her Brother Connor”
“Hey, I know I’m not the one who’s
supposed to serve detention, but I’m
Connor’s proxy today. He has to work
a baseball game. He’s one of the lucky
ones who got a job with the Royals.
He’s been busy looking up sources
for hemp for his research paper. Your
class is one of the few he attends. He wants
that college credit even though he’s late.
After all, it’s first hour. He has a to
of excuses for missing other classes. . .”
“Brian Baker Dishes Out”
“Do you wonder at all why I hide in the hall
or want passes to the bathroom? I hate
working in groups. They hand me questions
and say, You’re the one, man, like that’s going
to make me wanna help them. Anything I say
hangs in the air like a comic bubble. I’m
in the wrong place. I like to read Aristotle,
and everyone looks at me like I’m trying
to suck up. Who would I be sucking up to?
You never assigned Aristotle. I read
Homer and Shakespeare, too, and I don’t
need your help. You should leave me alone
and be happy that I am busy learning. . .”
“Carlos Martinez Has His Say in Detention”
“Some teachers overlook little things,
like talking or not having homework. I laugh
in the face of homework, and I’m not giving
back this pencil I borrowed because you gave me
detention, It’s mine now. You expect too much,
and those emails you send my mom do no good.
She shows them to me, and we laugh. . .”
Finally, as another teacher (albeit, never for high school), I can especially
relate to one of the poems Maryfrances Wagner wrote in the final section of Backstories, entitled, “Grading,” from which I included most lines—not all—to avoid violating copyright laws:
“We’ve watched
the moon sag
into tomorrow,
ready to set down
our pens. . .
They argued
their case,
we ours—
more detail,
another example,
better verbs. . .
Ink glides its
well-oiled
ball bearings,
eager to praise
a phrase,
to find
a moment
of thought.
Along with serving as Missouri’s Sixth Poet Laureate from 2021-2023, Maryfrances Wagner was the 2020 Missouri Individual Artist of the Year. She serves as a co-editor of I-70 Review and as president of The Writers Place board and programming chair. He poetry collection Red Silk, recently re-issued by BookMark Press. Won the Thorpe Menn book award and was first runner up in the Eric Hoffer Legacy Award 2024 and short-listed for the Grand Prize Poetry. Her poems have appeared in many notable poetry journals nationwide, including New Letters, Midwest Quarterly, Laurel Review, Main Street Rag, Rattle, Voices in Italian Americana, and Unsettling America: An Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry (Penguin). More than nineof her poetry collections have been released by various publishers.
Thank you, Maryfrances Wagner, for penning such an engaging collection.
—Lindsey Martin-Bowen
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
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Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author Jan Sikes and a review
Posted: August 12, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Book Review, Interview, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 97 Comments
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
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
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
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/
________________________
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.
__________________________
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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Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and blogger Nigel Byng and a review
Posted: July 8, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Book Review, Interview, Nigel Jerome Byng, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 81 CommentsToday I am pleased to introduce you to prolific poet and supportive blogger, Nigel Byng. In addition, to writing his own poetry and collaborating with other poets, Nigel has a series where he reads poems by poets in the WP community in his amazing voice. They are a real treat to listen to and you can access his reading of one of my poems on his blog here: https://hytsdaily.com/2026/06/13/exploring-poetry-a-weekly-reading-series-ep-22-dressing-for-battle-by-robbie-cheadle/
Welcome Nigel
Tell us a bit about Nigel Byng and his poetry journey
My poetry journey started in the UK, surprisingly. Heartbreak was at the core of every piece I wrote. It was dark, bitter, humorous at some level, and certainly not something I would have ever dared publish. I had given up on poetry for two decades, until Terveen Gill accepted a piece for Masticadores India. Then David Bogomolny invited me to engage with his W3 prompt, and I began to enjoy the weekly writing challenges. I still have a lot to learn about poetry, and I still consider myself primarily a storyteller.
What is your favorite style of poetry to write?
I enjoy a good limerick, but my favorite style would have to be narrative poetry. The storyteller in me needs room to be expressive, and narrative poetry allows me to write with a compelling arc or even have a central character in the piece. Concise writing and ambiguous verses have proven to be a challenge. Hence, I have taken to studying the art form and writing about it for Exploring Poetry. Some people have the gift for it and make it look easy, but it still takes a lot of work to get to that level of writing. I sit back and bask in their supreme talent. I have a long way to go.
What is your favorite of your own poems?
Ghetto Salvation, first shared on Masticadores Philippines, is perhaps my favorite poem. I enjoy my collaborations with the talented authors on WP, but my personal favorite is definitely Ghetto Salvation. For several reasons, the piece just felt like my most profound, emotionally perceptive, and socially conscious piece. It was written in the spur of the moment, and in a language that I think everyone could relate to. I did not want victimhood and depravity to be what everyone felt when they read it; I wanted them to sense defiance, a part of society where culture thrives, where a community was pursuing its own salvation, and so I began the piece with the line, “There is music coming from the ghettos.” A close second would be the central poem in my book, Prodigal.
Ghetto Salvation by Nigel Byng
There is music coming from the ghettos,
rising above poverty and the rumble of hungry bellies.
Of whelping babies hanging from a single-armed warrior
who stirs a pot of rice and beans
to feed an army.
***
A music fueled with resistance.
Of clefs that drift off the page,
and notes that lay siege to a barricaded salient city.
Where children with
swollen bellies,
ashen knees and dusty feet
play soccer to a rhythm only poverty can dance to.
***
Armored cars patrol the slums, armor-piercing rounds
perforate walls,
while shrapnel becomes playthings
of toddlers yet to walk.
Where nightlight
is the ambient glow of distant cluster bombs,
stargazing a hazardous hobby
as missiles create ghostly shooting stars.
***
A single horn blows the sound of freedom
and plastic buckets tap the rhythm of salvation.
Children huddle under the broken light
above the church door
and women swat at mosquitoes
as babies suckle for their very existence
nutrients devoid of sustenance.
***
Here, God has built a poor man’s tabernacle
in opposition to the revelry of neon palaces,
opulence and gluttony,
tempered glass temples to Moloch.
A greed that is impossible to satiate,
they thirst for more, more, and still more.
***
Yet, they smile.
***
Children whose future can be measured in 9mm increments.
Fathers who know not their progeny,
young mothers who know not their fathers,
adolescents, raising boys who dream of becoming soccer stars.
***
One day, the world will applaud them,
and this music will be taken to the synagogues of entertainment.
Gladiatorial servitude to the masses
as these child warriors will be immortalized in their pantheon,
lauded as Gods,
if only for a moment
© Nigel Byng, 2026. ALL Rights Reserved.
What was the inspiration for your new book of poems, The Drifter, The Prodigal, The Last Son?
Life sat me down after a freak accident at work, and it was all the inspiration I needed to put pen to paper. On a more personal level, the old lady is 92 this year, and it’s been one of her wishes that her son be a published writer. So she is happy about that.
What’s next for Nigel Byng?
My long-overdue collection of short stories, which should be out next year or before that if I can get all my ducks in a row. Finishing up my project with Melissa Lemay is perhaps the most pressing and time-sensitive project. I also have an illustrated children’s story with my long-time artist, JohnntoMcDaniel, and God willing, and time allowing, a mind-bending, bone-chilling series with Lesley Scoble. Caribbean Folklore is something I wish to add to my portfolio, on a broader and contemporary level. So, there is a lot on my schedule for the next six months.
My review of The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son by Nigel Byng
This inaugural book of poetry by Nigel Byng contains some extraordinary and moving poems ranging from the poet’s youth and journey to manhood, the tumultuous years of intense love and lust, difficulties. hurts and losses encountered along life’s path, and building a relationship with God. Poems relating to each of these four phases of life are collected into each of the four sections of this book.
The poet’s use of language is exceptional and truly conveys the strong emotion that inspired the poems. It is not easy to convey the spirit of the language used in any way other than by sharing a few extracts that I especially liked.
From Companion
“When the world hissed and turned against me, You were unmoved,
You have attended to me in every adversity.
Self-loathing greeted me on my pillow,
as the shadow of death lingered by my bedside.
But in every affliction, you were there.”
Little People
“Akin to a uniform horde of solider ants to forage for knowledge
following the sound of an enchanted flute.
What is this bedeviling mysticism
which snatches a child away from the bosom of its mother,
the protection of its father,
only to follow the breadcrumbs to their doom?
If you like beautiful and deep poetry, you will enjoy this book. My only negative is that I could not access the ebook using Speechify or another reading app. I also could not search the book using the search button and the contents page is not linked to the poems so you have to scroll through the entire book if you want to reread any specific poem.
Purchase The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Drifter-Prodigal-Last-Son-ebook/dp/B0H1987R65/
About Nigel Byng
Writer, poet, storyteller, Byng’s words move from quiet domestic moments to global, socially conscious truths. His stories and poems explore love, memory, morality, and the human experience with lyrical precision and emotional punch. Contributor to top anthologies and creator of the Exploring Poetry series, his debut collection, The Drifter, The Prodigal, The Last Son, is one to watch.
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/
________________________
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.
__________________________
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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A True Heroine
Posted: June 22, 2026 Filed under: history, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: history, John F. Garvin, Mary Jane Garvin, Poetry, Writing to be Read 2 Comments
My mother used to research the genealogy of her family. This is a poem which she uncovered, which was written by one of my ancestors, John F. Garvin, in 1894, in Eustis, Florida. This account of an Indian attack, in which his mother, Mary Jane Garvin killed seventeen of her attackers, is said to appear in the History of the Great West.
A True Heroin
In the far, far west
On the wild frontier,
There a woodsman made his home,
Where the wolf, the bear,
The panther, and the deer,
And the red man used to roam.
There was turkey, too
In the forest new
Which full many a meal supplied
And many a ham
Of their autumn game
Were hung from the beam and dried.
Then the Indians came
With their wheat and rye
Together supplied their bread
In their cabin home
The reds and whites
Alike were lodged and fed.
They worked like bees
And lived in peace
Till the reds to the warpath fled.
The whites they were burning
And killing they knew
They waited their time with dread.
The husband was sick
And in anguish turned
As he heard the war whoop wild
“Oh, what can I do,”
He wildly cried
“To protect my wife and child?”
No time could be lost
She grabbed the ax
As the reds cut the door away
And as in they came
They fell to the floor
As forms of lifeless clay.
Some thought to climb
Down the chimney flu,
But the feather bed put on the fire
So smothered the ones
That were coming down
So that one by one the expired.
When her work was done
Her strength was gone
And fainting she fell to the wall
And only one red man
From the conflict ran
To tell what became of them all.
Calmly their forms were returned
To Earth
But there stood on history’s page
A tale how she rought
with nerve and thought
To keep from the red man’s rage.
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Rave Reviews for “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons”
Posted: June 17, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Review, Books, Poetry, Review, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Book Review, Kaye Lynne Booth, Poetry, Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons, Robbie Cheadle, WordCrafter Press 2 Comments
Check it out! Find out what D.L. Finn has to say about Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons, from WordCrafter Press.
Shout out to all contributing authors: Robbie Cheadle, Colleen Chesebro, V.W. Sang, Joy Neal Kidney, Kevin Morris, Yvette Prior, Marsha Ingrao, Jean Jacques Fournier, Cindy Georgakas, Freya Pickard, Melissa Lemay, Michelle Ayon Navajas, and Nolcha Fox.
Thank you, Dennis. 🙂
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Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and blogger Dwight Roth and a review
Posted: June 10, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Interview, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Bones of Inspiration, Book Review, Dwight Roth, Interview, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 54 CommentsToday I am delighted to introduce you to poet and blogger Dwight Roth. Dwight has a beautiful blog which you can find here: https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/roth-poetry-home-page/. Dwight shares poetry, his lovely paintings, and other craft work on his blog.
Welcome Dwight
Tell us a bit about your writing journey and how you came to write poetry
Reading and writing were very hard for me in primary school. It seems like it took me until I got to the fifth grade to begin catching on to how learning worked. Over the years I dabbled in writing. I wrote songs that I played on the guitar and some poems in freestyle. What little I about poetry, knew was what I learned in my literature classes in high school and college.
After I retired, I began to participate in a live poetry reading at the Indian Trail Cultural arts center in 2013. It was led by Kym Moore, whom some of you know from our Word press blog. I began collecting my poems and had them printed into a booklet form at the local Office Max. She encouraged me to post my poems on a blog.
She introduced me to Word Press and in 2016 I decide to try and joined the Word Press blogging group. It was there I found a poetry community of people who enjoyed my poetry and it took off from there. I made so many wonderful friends over the years and found d’Verse Poets Pub to be a great help in learning to understand poetry in its many forms.
Kym also connected me with Tom Davis, editor of Old Mountain Press, who was a great help in writing my memoirs. He publishes a poetry anthology quarterly which I have contributed to for the past ten years.
I posted my photos and poems every day for over five years. My poems were all written in digital form so I got them published in spiral bound books at the local Office Max. I now have published ten books of poems and several children’s book along with a few my memoirs. Some of them can be found on Amazon Kindle.
Writing poetry has change my life and added purpose to my retirement years.
What is your favourite style of poetry to read?
My poetry of choice is freestyle but I do love writing haiku as well. Saying a lot with a few words is a fun challenge.
Share your favourite poem by another poet and why
I love the work of Billy Collins. His freestyle approach to the ordinary and everyday is so enjoyable to read or listen to. This was the first poem I ever read of his work. There was an immediate connection.
Aimless Love by Billy Collins
This morning as I walked along the lakeshore,
I fell in love with a wren
and later in the day with a mouse
the cat had dropped under the dining room table.
In the shadows of an autumn evening,
I fell for a seamstress
still at her machine in the tailor’s window,
and later for a bowl of broth,
steam rising like smoke from a naval battle.
This is the best kind of love, I thought,
without recompense, without gifts,
or unkind words, without suspicion,
or silence on the telephone.
The love of the chestnut,
the jazz cap and one hand on the wheel.
No lust, no slam of the door –
the love of the miniature orange tree,
the clean white shirt, the hot evening shower,
the highway that cuts across Florida.
No waiting, no huffiness, or rancor –
just a twinge every now and then
for the wren who had built her nest
on a low branch overhanging the water
and for the dead mouse,
still dressed in its light brown suit.
But my heart is always propped up
in a field on its tripod,
ready for the next arrow.
After I carried the mouse by the tail
to a pile of leaves in the woods,
I found myself standing at the bathroom sink
gazing down affectionately at the soap,
so patient and soluble,
so at home in its pale green soap dish.
I could feel myself falling again
as I felt its turning in my wet hands
and caught the scent of lavender and stone.
What is your favourite of your own poems and why?
As I get older, I enjoy pondering on life, death, and theology trying to understand what it all means.This poem is one that came from one of those times.
When My Spirit Rises by Dwight Roth
When my spirit rises
Unencumbered and free
No weight or worry accompanies me
Interesting that I value things
When in the end the spirit flies
Leaving them all behind
How much I worry and fret
But this too shall pass when I am gone
My spirit rises out of this shell
A virtual butterfly reborn
From caterpillar to chrysalis
Reborn in the image of God
Spirit, Creator, Redeemer, Savior
Knowing there is no place for the earthly
In the spirit world beyond
I can’t take it with me
But then again… Why would I want to
When my spirit rises
Leaving it all behind
What poetry projects are you currently working on?
My last project was a self-published book of poems called Bones of Inspiration.
I started publishing my own books using my home computer instead of going to Office Max. I have done the last three poetry books this way. I got a punch and bindings on Amazon that works very well for me. I print books for friends and family. I usually have about a hundred poems to compile every year or so. It is time consuming but I love the process.
My review of Bones of Inspiration by Dwight Roth
Dwight Roth is my kind of poet. He writes powerful and impactful poems and flash fiction using simple words and phrases. I don’t need a dictionary to read his work and his meanings and content are clear and precise. Dwight also writes about everyday issues and circumstances that I experience every day. This makes his poetry very relatable for me.
This collection covers a wide range of topics including love, fear, aging, and many others. He uses a technique of questioning in some of his poems which I also enjoy very much. An example of Dwight’s usage of this technique is in his poem Color in the Dark:
“What happens to color when the light goes out
Is the rainbow still there, dancing all about
Or do the colors all congeal to dark black ghosts
Spectors of nothingness seeking a place to float.”
Another beautifully written and insightful poem is about a time when the poet was seven years old and his mother was ill. He perfectly captures the confusion and anxiety of a young boy who doesn’t understand what’s going on but knows its a serious event in his family’s life. An intense extract from this poem, Childhood Trauma:
“Being only seven years old I did not know what to thing as they
carefully carried her down the steps and loaded her into
the back of the hearse that had windows on each side that
read: Honsaker’s Funeral Home – Masontown, Pa
It was a great relief to know the poet’s mother survived and lived to reach a good, old age.
My favourite poem in the collection is Silence … or My Noise of Choice. Although I do not suffer from tinnitus like the author does, I am often overwhelmed by the noise pollution living in a big city. During Covid lockdown, when I went outside to hang out the washing it was delightfully silent. I could write a poem in my head or listen to an audio book on low to entertain myself. Now that we are back to normal life, I find being outside very noisy. I can’t listen to an audio book even with the sound turned up because I can’t hear above the cars and motorbikes racing up the road or an airplane flying overhead. The neighbours play noisy music or speak loudly as do pedestrians on the road. I find the constant noise pollution very stressful. This is a short extract from this poem:
“Sounds around me seem to compete for attention
floating through my head competing with my tinnitus
constantly buzzing like high-pitched cicadas and little twitters.
To my left the return fan for the AC hums off and on
drowning out the questions on Jeopardy and the Wheel.
Finally, the AC fan goes off, the TV is shut off … Ahhh … peace and quiet
But no, as I settle back with my laptop and blog the fridge drops its ice”
If you enjoy honest, easy to read and relate to poetry that is well written and engaging, you will enjoy this delightful collection.
You can purchase Bones of Inspiration from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Inspiration-Poetry-enjoy-think-ebook/dp/B0GKQ3SDX3
About Dwight Roth
Dwight Roth is a retired elementary school teacher of 29 years, who grew up in the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania. He enjoys writing, poetry, painting, and music. He enjoys participating in the Indian Trail Cultural Arts poetry group and has had works published in, and recent omp.com Anthologies. He has self-published three memoirs and a book of poetry two children’s books and three “a word from the Word” daily meditation books. He and his wife Ruth live near Monroe, NC.
You can find Dwight Roth on his blog here: https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/
You can find Dwight Roth’s poetry collections and other books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B017HW5AHG
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/
________________________
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.
__________________________
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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Book Review: “25 Fires” & “In This Burning World”
Posted: April 24, 2026 Filed under: Apocalyptic, Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: 25 Fires, Book Review, Eric S. Hoffman, In This Burning World, Mary Mackey, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read 5 Comments
About 25 Fires: A Call to What Comes Next
A book for anyone frustrated with the present – but unwilling to give up on the future.
25 Fires confronts a fractured world and asks: What comes next?
Told across 25 short, incendiary chapters, it traces an arc from the glittering cosmos to the choices of a single life.
Fierce and poetic.
Clear-eyed and human.
A book you can read in one sitting.
A fire you can carry for years.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/25-Fires-Call-What-Comes-ebook/dp/B0GNHJK9KT
My Review of 25 Fires
I received a digital copy of 25 Fires, from the author, Eric S. Hoffman, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
25 chapters of poetic verse make up this short book. It begins in the first section, titled “Inferno”, laying out the poet’s bleak vision of the world as we know it
“Our institutions are crumbling.
Schools are running on fumes.
Democracy sells to the highest bidder
And insulin costs more than your car.
We’re better than this.”
In the second section, titled “Smoke”, and deals with the desperation of dealing with life in today’s world. Chapter 7 depicts life in our world.
“is there anybody out there?
Is anyone actually home?
I wonder sometimes.
I scroll past all these comments and conversation.
I swipe through photos and updates about your dog.
But it all feels… empty.
And although many of these are a cry of woe, amongst the predictions of doom, there lies a message of hope, like in chapter 24, in the section titled Sparks:
“The shift has already started.
The new world is already being built.
Not by the biggest armies,
Or the deepest pockets,
Or the loudest mouths.
But the rest of us.
Getting our minds in order.
Putting our hands to work.
The single mom hunched behind a laptop.
The grandfather up at 3 a.m.inhis garage.
Little fires.
Scattered in the dark.
We may not see each other,
But together we’re illuminating what comes next.”
One must ponder which is more captivating, the verse or the message which it carries? This short volume is easily read in a single sitting, but you may want to go back and go over it again to absorb the full impact.
Poetic verse with an important message. I give 25 Fires four quills.
About In this Burning World
Poetry for a planet in crisis: Love, loss, and hope in a burning world.
In In This Burning World, Mary Mackey offers a powerful collection of poems that unflinchingly confront the realities of climate change. Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, Mackey explores themes of apocalypse, love, and resilience, inviting readers to find hope and connection in the face of environmental destruction.
These poems capture the beauty of a world on the brink, while also celebrating the enduring power of human relationships. Perfect for readers seeking:
- Poetry that addresses climate change
- Inspirational verses about love and loss
- A hopeful perspective on the future
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/This-Burning-World-Poems-Apocalypse-ebook/dp/B0DYWXW9Z9
My Review of In This Burning World
I received a copy of In This Burning World: Poems of Love and Apocalypse from the author, Mary Mackey, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Poems of love and apocalypse. It seemed to me a curious combination. I had to check out this poetry collection.
True to the title, there are poems depicting both. Poems of apocalypse bring vivid images of destruction and ruin.
When Mirrors Are Reversed
When mirrors are reversed
we will walk together through skeleton forests
along rivers that boil like molten glass
behind us ghost panthers
will stalk us through the dust of our cities
gathering up our unborn children
and unraveling our dreams
the skies will be filled with fish
and the oceans will be filled with crows
our mouths will be filled with dust
and we will not drown
we will smother
Poems of love evoke feelings of pleasure and contentment.
Walking Toward the Largo do Machado
when the smell of jasmine
flows through the streets of Catete like a warm fog
when the scent is so liquid you can
breathe it in get drunk and stagger
I think of all the years I have loved you
and all the years I will go on loving you
I think of how we protect each other from pain and betrayal
how each night we wrap ourselves around each other
and peace floats above our bed like a canopy of white petals
Somehow, they all fit together perfectly to form a tapestry of anticipation and hope.
A unique collection of poetry about climate change, life and love. I give This Burning World five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour
Posted: April 22, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Giveaways, Poetry, Poetry Readings, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours | Tags: Freya Pickard, Poetry, Poetry Anthology, Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons, V.M. Sang, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 1 Comment
Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour finds us over at Joy Neal Kidney’s blog site with fun facts and a poetry reading by V.M. Sang, and an introduction to Freya Pickard. Join us in celebrating the release of this amazing poetry anthology and enter the giveaway for a chance at a free digital copy of the book.
Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour – Joy Neal Kidney
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Opening Day of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour
Posted: April 20, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Giveaways, Poetry, Poetry Readings, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Cindy Georgakas, Hotel by Masticadores, Kevin Morris, Masticadores Phillipines, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Poetry, Poetry by Mich, Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours 8 CommentsJoin us for the opening day of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons” Book Blog Tour with host Michelle Ayon Navajas and contributors Cindy Georgakas and Kevin Morris over on Poetry by Mich at the link below. Or you can catch it on Hotel by Masticadores and Masticadores Phillipines, where we have fun facts about each contributor and a reading by Cindy of her poem, “Dreaming of Summer”.
Help us celebrate the release of this fabulous poetry anthology, volume 6 of the Poetry Treasures Anthology Series, and get in on the free giveaway just by leaving a comment.
