Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author V.M. Sang and a review #poetry #poetrycommunity #bookreview

Posted: April 16, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: January to June, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, V.M. Sang, Writing to be Read | 74 Comments

Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2025 banner

Today, I am delighted to Welcome V.M. Sang, author and poet, as my April Treasuring Poetry guest.

Welcome Viv!

Thank you, Robbie, for inviting me to come and chat about poetry. I am honoured that you asked me.

What is your favourite style of poetry to read?

I enjoy Haiku and Tanka. I appreciate the structure and the work that goes in to make the syllables fit. But I also enjoy sonnets.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

I struggled with this. There are so many I enjoy. I like the 1st World War poets and their take on the war. Particularly poignant are the two lines from Yeates An Irish Airman Forsees His Death.

Those that I fight I do not hate

Those that I guard I do not love.

But one poem I’ve loved since studying it at College is the sonnet, Ozymandias, by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It is a warning to all who strive to get above themselves. I think it is particularly pertinent at this time.

Ozymandias

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said, “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that Colossal Wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

What is your favourite style of poetry to write?

I enjoy writing most forms, but particularly those with a strict form, like the sonnet and the Japanese forms, but I especially like to write rhyming poetry. I know it’s not fashionable at the moment, but I find the discipline a challenge. Discovering words with the right sound and number of syllables can be quite a challenge.

What is your favourite of your own poems?

I have to admit that there are two, both related. ‘I Am Earth’ appears in my first poetry book, Miscellaneous Thoughts, and the second one ‘I Am Earth 2’ is in From January to June, February 7th.

I Am Earth

I am Earth.

I am your mother.

I gave you birth.

I gave you a nest.

A wonderful home

On which you can rest.

I gave you food .

Plenty to eat.

You waste all that’s good.

I gave you the seas

And forests and hills,

But you chop down the trees.

You think you’re so cool,

But you pollute the air

By the burning of fuel.

You heat up the air

And care not a jot

For the poor polar bear.

Animals die

Because of your greed.

You hear not their cry.

I teemed with life,

Both great and small,

Yet extinction is rife.

Like a cancer you spread

Throughout the whole world.

It won’t end till you’re dead.

But I’ll make you pay

For all you have done.

You’ll be sorry one day.

I’ll shiver my skin.

Your buildings will fall

And bury your kin.

The land I will flood

By raising the seas

And drown all in mud.

My mountains so high

Will belch forth their flames

And you will all die.

I am Earth.

I am your mother.

I gave you birth.

BUT I WILL DESTROY YOU.

I Am Earth (2)

I am Earth.

I am your mother

I gave you birth.

I told you

What will occur.

And now you will rue.

You ignore me

And take little heed

Of my anxious plea.

So I send you rain

To flood all your homes

And give you pain.

I send the drought

So no crops will grow.

There’s famine, no doubt.

I heat the world

And many will die

From the heat I have hurled.

Winds I will send

In hurricanes now.

Your lands they will rend.

Yet you will not learn.

To me you are deaf

So the world I will burn.

Fires in the summer;

Deep snow in the cold.

You get dumber and dumber.

My skin I do shiver

And make buildings fall

As the ground it does quiver.

I will belch forth fire

From deep in my heart.

Make Earth like a pyre.

Will you now learn?

Don’t exploit my wealth.

Or you I will burn.

I AM DESTROYING YOU.

Please tell us about your poetry books, One Poem A Day Series? How did this book come about? It is a big commitment to write a poem a day.

My daughter, when she was little, had a bedtime story book with a very short story or a little poem for each day of the year. It was amazing because when she asked for more, as children will, I could say that the next poem or story was tomorrow’s.

For some reason I found myself thinking about this book one day. I’ve no idea why. It was decades ago when she was so small.

Then I thought, “Why not try to write one poem each day for a year, just like that book.” So that’s how it began.

It was quite difficult. Some days I had no inspiration and had to search for it. Other days I just didn’t feel like writing.

The discipline was good for me. I tend to be a procrastinator. There were some days when I couldn’t write due to circumstances, but I caught up by writing two poems until I was back on track.

My review of From January to June (One Poem A Day Series Book 1)

Picture caption: Cover of From January to June (One Poem A Day Series Book 1)

I enjoyed this collection of poetry very much. It is very British in its content and language and the poems reminded me of the stories of my mother has told me of her childhood growing up in a small town in Suffolk, UK. The references and descriptions are all familiar to me and reading this book was like putting on a comfortable dressing gown.

The style of the poems is varied from freestyle, to rhyming verse, to syllabic poetry and I enjoyed this aspect. There were also several limericks to make the reader smile. The content is also wide ranging from nature, to a Roman gods theme, to friends and family. The poems are grouped by month and tell a story of the poet’s daily experiences during that month in terms of the environment, the holidays, and entertainment.

A few of my favourite poems with a short synopsis:
Grown Up – a fun poem asking about why the poet should do certain expected things in order to be deemed grown up;
The Peacock – a delightful descriptive poem of a male peacock;
Destruction – a sad commentary of the damage humans have, and continue to, inflict on the planet;
The Fishmonger’s – a delicious commentary on the yummy seafood enjoyed by the poet;
Robin – a gorgeous depiction of a robin in the poet’s garden;
Starlings – a tanka about a murmuration of starlings going to roost;
Tea – a poem about English tea;
Blackpool – a comparative poem between the Blackpool of the poet’s childhood memories and the modern Blackpool;
Mum – a very special tribute to the poet’s mother;
Boudicca – a poem about this famous historical queen. I was interested to note that the name of this woman has been changed from Boudicea which is the name my mom always calls her. It cleared up a confusion for me;
Son – a delightful poem about the poet’s son;
Rainbow – an interesting and unique take on the colours of the rainbow;
Spring cleaning – an entertaining take on spring cleaning which is very familiar to me;
I am a Writer – a poem about why the poet writes. I always enjoy peeks into why poets and authors write;
True Love – a romantic poem about a lost love;
Teddy – a delightful poem about the poet’s teddy bear from childhood. I also had mine until recently;
Fickle Muse – a commentary about when the words don’t come;
Gardens, I’ll quote this short poem:
“Gardens are bits of heaven
Fallen from above.
Gardeners are angels
Tending them with love.”
Ode to Beer – an amusing poem about the historical and modern joys of beer;
The Village Green – my personal favourite in this collection. A poem about British communal life;

This is a delightful collection that really warmed my heart.

You can purchase From January to June (One Poem A Day Series Book 1) from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CNW1NQPZ

And from Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/January-June-One-Poem-Day/dp/482418892X

About V.M. Sang

Picture caption: V.M. Sang author photograph

V.M. Sang was born and lived her early life in Cheshire in the north west of England. She has always loved books and reading and learned to read before she went to school.

During her teenage years she wrote some poetry, one of which was published in Tecknowledge,the magazine of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Unfortunately, that is the only one that is still around.

V.M. Sang became a teacher and taught English and Science at her first school.

She did little writing until starting to teach in Croydon, Greater London. Here she started a Dungeons and Dragons club in the school where she was teaching. She decided to write her own scenario. The idea of turning it into a novel formed but she did nothing about it until she took early retirement. Then she began to write The Wolves of Vimar Series.

Walking has always been one of V.M. Sang’s favourite pastimes, having gone on walking holidays in her teens. She met her husband walking with the University Hiking Club, and they still enjoy walking on the South Downs.

V.M.Sang also enjoys a variety of crafts, such as card making, tatting, crochet, knitting etc. She also draws and paints.

V.M.Sang is married with two children, a girl and a boy. Her daughter has three children and she loves to spend time with them.

She now lives in East Sussex with her husband.

Find V.M. Sang

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23500375-vivienne-sang

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/sang0566/

Amazon Author Profile: http://viewauthor.at/VMSang

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carthinal/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v.m.sang/

Bluesky: @aspholessaria.bsky.social

Find V.M. Sang’s books

FANTASY

The Wolves of Vimar series.

The Wolf Pack https://books2read.com/u/m0lxEy

The Never-Dying Man https://books2read.com/u/3R6ozR

Wolf Moon https://books2read.com/u/mvWjXe

The Wolves of Vimar prequels.

Jovinda and Noli

https://books2read.com/u/mgjrO0

The Making of a Mage

https://books2read.com/u/mddNNO

Dreams of an Elf Maid

https://books2read.com/u/4ElDZg

Horselords:

https://books2read.com/u/31XQ0a

Elemental Worlds duo.

The Stones of Earth and Air

https://books2read.com/u/mYygKV

The Stones of Fire and Water

https://books2read.com/u/brwoVE

Historical Fiction

A Family Through the Ages

Vengeance of a Slave

https://books2read.com/u/3kLZxR

Jealousy of a Viking

https://books2read.com/u/bMYGKk

POETRY BOOKS

Miscellaneous Thoughts.

tps://books2read.com/u/38Pzpr

January to June. One Poem a Day. Book 1

https://books2read.com/u/bx6azJ

July to December. One Poem a Day. Book 2

https://books2read.com/u/3kXvDR

Non-Fiction

Viv’s Family Recipes

https://books2read.com/u/mVR7dM

All the books are available in many formats, including audio for several of them.

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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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

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and Filled Heart-Shaped Meringue Shells #bookreview #fiction #desserts

Posted: April 9, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: Milan Kundera, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Writing to be Read | 59 Comments

The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera

Picture caption: Cover of The Unbearable Lightness of Being featuring a bra and panties in black against a blue background

I knew when I started reading this book that it was unusual and had a big focus on extramarital affairs and womanizing, but I decided to try it anyway and see what all the fuss was about. The Unbearable Lightness of Being is set in Prague, Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring of 1968 and the subsequent Soviet invasion. The story revolves around four central characters who are all facing their own problems and difficulties with relationships. Both of the men are womanizers and unable to remain faithful to a single woman, even one they profess to love. One of the women is also unable to settle down with a partner and has a string of affairs with men, married and otherwise.

Tomas is a successful surgeon at the beginning of the book. He fears commitment and this has already led to one failed marriage. He does not have anything to do with either his ex-wife or his son. When Tereza arrives on his doorstep, huge bag by her side, he is effectively bamboozled into taking her into his home. She fascinates him and he does have feelings of great attachment for her which lead to him marrying her. He fights these feelings and continues to have his countless affairs, in particular, he has an on-going sexual relationship with Sabina, a beautiful artist. Tereza loves Tomas very much and when the Russian Invasion begins, she goes with him to Zurich where she expects him to give up his infidelities. This does not happen, and he continues to see Sabina who has immigrated to Geneva. Tereza decides to leave Zurich and return to Prague. Tomas, despite his desire for freedom, follows Tereza, knowing he will not be able to leave Prague again. His attachment to Tereza is strong but it does not result in a happy ever after due to Tomas becoming involved in a political situation that destroys his career.

Throughout, Tomas and Tereza’s relationship, Sabina has another on-going affair with Franz, a married man who lives in Geneva. Sabina and Franz don’t understand each other at all and when Franz ultimately leaves his wife to live permanently with Sabina, she disappears, leaving him alone with no-one.

The central theme of this book is the philosophical concept of eternal return which assumes that everything in life repeats itself continuously into infinity. The author, however, uses the characters in his story to dismiss the theory of eternal return while maintaining the view that it is the only path to true happiness and as each individual’s life path is a straight line, lasting happiness is not achievable.

This was not an easy read for me, and I returned to it several times in order to finish it. The philosophy is very different from my personal beliefs and while it was a worthwhile read in the long run, it is not a book that everyone will enjoy

A few quotes from The Unbearable Lightness of Being

“Anyone whose goal is ‘something higher’ must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.”

“Making love with a woman and sleeping with a woman are two separate passions, not merely different but opposite. Love does not make itself felt in the desire for copulation (a desire that extends to an infinite number of women) but in the desire for shared sleep (a desire limited to one woman).”

“There is no means of testing which decision is better, because there is no basis for comparison. We live everything as it comes, without warning, like an actor going on cold. And what can life be worth if the first rehearsal for life is life itself? That is why life is always like a sketch. No, “sketch” is not quite a word, because a sketch is an outline of something, the groundwork for a picture, whereas the sketch that is our life is a sketch for nothing, an outline with no picture.”

Filled Heart-Shaped Meringue Shells (copyright Robbie Cheadle)

To go with this rather extraordinary book, I am sharing a dessert from my children’s book, Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid.

Picture caption: Heart-Shaped Meringues before filling

Ingredients:

• 4 large egg whites at room temperature;

• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar;

• Pinch of salt;

• 1 cup castor sugar;

• Pink food colouring (liquid); and

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What you need:

• Electric hand mixer or stand mixer;

• Baking trays;

• Wax paper cut to fit the baking trays;

• A large heart shaped cookie cutter;

• Pencil;

• Large piping bag or a strong plastic bag with the end snipped off; and

• Large star piping tip.

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 120 degrees Celsius.

• Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the bowl of the mixer (it must not be greased and must be clean and dry).

• Whisk the egg mixture on a low speed until the mixture becomes foamy.

• Increase the speed to high and gradually add the castor sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Allow for 20 seconds of mixing in between new additions of sugar.

• When the mixture is thick and glossy i.e. the spoon can stand up in the bowl, stir through the vanilla essence and a few drops of pink food colouring.

Instructions:

• Using a pencil, draw six heart shapes on the non-wax side of a piece of wax paper that fits inside the baking tray.

• Fit the star piping tip into the piping bag.

• Spoon the meringue mixture into the piping bag.

• Squeezing the bag, draw a thick line of meringue around the heart shape. Repeat twice to form three meringue layers, one on top of the other to form the sides of the meringue shell.

• Using the piping bag, fill in the bottom of the heart with meringue mixture.

• Pipe another layer of meringue around the sides of the heart.

• Pipe a few meringue stars to use up the last of the meringue mixture in the piping bag.

• Place the meringues in the oven and bake for 3 hours.

• Switch off the oven, and open the door half way. Leave the meringues to cool overnight.

Picture caption: Filled Heart-Shaped Meringues

Filling for the Heart-Shaped Meringues

Ingredients:

• A handful of chopped strawberries;

• A handful of chopped raspberries;

• Whipped cream; and

• Melted chocolate.

Method:

• Whip the cream and spoon a quantity into each shell. Don’t overfill.

• Add a small quantity of chopped strawberries and chopped raspberries.

• Drizzle tempered dark chocolate over the filling.

Tip:

Only fill the meringues just before serving or they will go soggy.

Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid is available from Amazon US here:

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This segment of “Read and Cook” with Robbie Cheadle is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.

Historical Women’s Fiction

Get Your Copy Today!

Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1

Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West

Marta: Coming in 2025

In Touch With Nature – Nyala antelope #southernAfricanwildlife

Posted: March 26, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Nyala Antelope, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read | 88 Comments

The Nyala is a spiral horned antelope native to southern Africa. It is the antelope with the highest sexual dimorphism (differences between male and female of the species). This is easy to see in the photographs and videos I’ve shared in this post so look out for the rusty or rufous brown coats of the females and juveniles and the dark brown or slate grey coat of adult males. Females and juveniles also have ten or more white vertical stripes on their sides which the stripes are greatly reduced or completely absent in the adult males. The males are significantly larger than the females.

Picture caption: Female Nyala with vertical white stripes

Picture caption: Above and below are pictures of a male Nyala

The Nyala is a shy animal and is usually seen in the early morning and the late afternoon when it browses, feeding on foliage, fruits, and grasses. They live in thickets within dense and dry savannah woodlands and are usually found in single-sex or mixed family groups of up to ten animals. These antelope are not fast runners, and their camouflage is their main defense against predators.

The main predators of the Nyala are lions, leopards, African wild dogs, and humans. The males are highly prized as game animals, and they are often victims of poaching. Human settlement is also encroaching on their habitat resulting in a declining population although they are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Nyalas have a special relationship with the baboons and vervet monkeys with whom they share the woodlands. They eat any fruit dropped by these primates and also react to any alarm calls made by primates from their advantageous viewing points in the trees. The baboons and monkeys also benefit from the relationship as Nyala have exceptional hearing, smell, and sight. When a Nyala spots danger, it gives off a striking alarm call sounding a bit like a barking dog. This warning also serves the primates and other creatures sharing their habitat.

Interestingly, Nyalas are not territorial. They wander about in groups and do not try to protect any areas from other creatures.

Nyala buck have an aggressive way of breeding. Firstly, the males fight for dominance, crashing into each other with their sharp horns acting like swords. The horns often draw blood. The bulls fight until one backs down by walking away as a sign of submission. These battles can be fatal if the wounds become infected or if the bull is concussed. The winning bull then slowly dances within the group of females, using strange, stuttering movements and raising its head to show off its white underfur.

When a female is on heat, the male follows her on foot, pushing his nose between her legs. He gets excited and buts her hindquarters right off the ground. If the female is interested, she stops walking. The male then walks around her and presses her head down before he mounts her. Gestation is 220 days and ewes can conceive from the age of 14 months.

Picture caption: Close up of a young male Nyala

Picture caption: Close up of a female Nyala

YouTube video of Nyala herd comprising of young males and females:

Male Nyala licking his legs YT video:

YT video of a Nyala male feeding:

The Fire Part 1

Flamboyant performer
Sun takes final bow
Pitch black curtains descend; concealing the stage
Campers assemble fire
Restraining darkness
***
Wood ignites, flames crackle
Illuminating
Nocturnal animals materialise
Skulking in deep shadow
Bright eyes glittering
***
Feeding ravenous blaze
An essential task
Stopping potential diners from helping themselves
To a convenient
Snack of arms or legs

The Fire Part 2

Dawn makes her grand entrance
Painting the sky red
Men prepare to depart, water smothers fire
Murky vapour billows
Dark ashes sodden
***
Everything orderly
The campers move on
Single flickering coal smolders unnoticed
Mutely clinging to life
Nurtured by the breeze
***
Dry leaves fall stealthily
Embracing ember
Sustenance provided; leaves burst into flame
Cunningly building strength
Destruction ensured

These poem duo is from my book, Lion Scream, Syllabic Poetry About Southern African Wildlife, available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

Picture caption: Promotional banner for Lion Scream

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of sixteen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of three poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? 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 “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and author, Freya Pickard, and my book reviews #poetry #bookreviews

Posted: March 19, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Freya Pickard, Insides, Interview, My Mythology, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 42 Comments

Today, I am delighted to feature poet and author, Freya Pickard, as my March Treasuring Poetry Guest. Freya is a great supporter of the WordPress poetry community and runs a bi-annual haiku challenge on her haiku blog which you can find here: https://purehaiku.wordpress.com/.

Welcome Freya.

What is your favourite style of poetry to read ie haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc?

I’m not sure I have a favourite style of poetry. I enjoy both modern and traditional haiku, as well as tanka and other short form poetry due to their ability to create startling, vivid images and contrasts. But I also enjoy other poetical forms, including free verse. I usually look for poetry that captures my imagination, that allows me to connect the dots without the poet telling me how I should feel or think or believe. I enjoy any kind of poetry that allows my inner being to connect with ideas and concepts too. My favourite reads from the last couple years include Linda Imbler’s “Twelvemonth” and Willow Croft’s “Quantum Singularity”. I’m also a huge fan of Italian poet, Claudia Messelodi and love her collections “Blue Moon” and “Sky-Blue Wisteria”. I also love JRR Tolkien’s epic poems, especially those in The Lays of Beleriand.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

A poem I return to again and again is The Lay of Leithian by JRR Tolkien. It tells of a tragic love story between a human man, Beren, and an immortal elf woman, Luthien. Their love is forbidden by Luthien’s father and the story covers many years of suffering for both protagonists. There are horrendous monsters and dark peril for both to overcome. Beren’s task is to obtain one of the elvish jewels, a Silmaril, and in doing so, he loses his life. If you’ve not read it, I won’t spoil it by telling you the ending, but it really is worth reading! (No, I’ve not seen The Rings of Power because I can’t stream images. Plus, I’ve seen trailers for it and the characters are not how I imagined them to look/act!)

I suppose this Lay satisfies my need for both poetry and stories. The narrative is also dark, which suits me fine, and contains both vampires and werewolves amongst the monsters who tread the shadows! The romance isn’t cloying and the ending is bittersweet, which, for me, is a true reflection of life. The Lay of Leithian is incredible long, so here are just a few excerpts which I love.

The first excerpt sets the scene for Luthien’s dancing beneath the moonlight:

There darkling stood a silent elm

And pale beneath its shadow-helm

There glimmered faint the umbels thick

Of hemlocks like a mist, and quick

The moths on pallid wings of white …

The second excerpt describes the vampire that haunts the tale:

A vampire shape with pinions vast

Screeching leaped from the ground and passed,

It’s dark blood dripping on the trees …

And the last excerpt describes one of the many fight scenes:

From shape to shape, from wolf to worm,

From monster to his own demon form,

Thu changes, but that desperate grip

He cannot shake, nor from it slip …

What is your favourite style of poetry to write?

I write from my heart, how I feel, what I see, what I experience, so more often than not I write free verse. Sometimes this outpouring of poetry is rhythmical such as in

Down through the dewy woods, damp and leafy

Wading rivers that rush and whirl

Lost in the mist, in the moors and marshes

Stumbles at last to a steep-sided cliff…

Sometimes it rhymes:

I dream of mermaids, magic and myth,

Of silvery fish tails, immortal gifts,

Flaming red hair and liquid green eyes,

Of laughter and singing old sea-songs.

Songs that whisper of seaweed, wind-rippled sands

That tell of the monsters who walk on land,

That speak of Ancients who dwell in the deeps,

Hinting at languages no man can speak.

I dream of dolphins so free in the sea

Of the whale and the seahorse,

Of what might have been…

But normally I find a rhythm of words that reflects my emotion:

this blurred moment

when

hydrogen combines with

oxygen –

too much water

I drown

swiftly rising

I gasp

draw air

to resurrect myself

wavering

on the edge

I feel life

flickering

doused in moisture

I reach for the wind

bursting full

I skim, I dance

across this strange

ocean called

death

I do use poetic forms to express myself and have experimented with many different short forms in the past. My favourite styles are haiku, tanka and elfje because they are short and focus my attention on one thing at a time. I love haiku, particularly traditional haiku because it tests my ability to say something in just 17 syllables!

eggshell thin fragile

touch me and I will shatter

empty, blank inside

What is your favourite of your own poems?

My favourite poem, so far in my life, is I, Vampire from my most recent poetry collection, Vampirical Verse. I, Vampire sums up how I feel post cancer and encapsulates the experience of near death, open surgery and chemotherapy too.

I understand emptiness

I feel no fear

no pain

no joy

no sorrow

I am hollowed out

what used to live within

has long since fled

yet still, I am not dead

unable to care

to be concerned

no heart beats within my breast

no hormones surge inside

I feel nothing –

un-dead yet un-alive

Please tell us about your poetry book trilogy, This Is Me. What is your main intention with this collection of poems?

This Is Me boxset/paperback contains the frost three published volumes of my poetry. Each volume has a different reason for being in the collection.

Volume 1 – Insides

These poems were written between July 2014 and October 2015 and covers my near death experience of bowel cancer, open surgery, chemotherapy and the start of my recovery. Most days I wrote something in my journal, even if it was just one sentence. I found it hardest to write during chemo due to the utter exhaustion I experienced for 6 months. At other times I was lucid enough to experiment with poetic forms and often, some of my prose sentences became poems when I looked back in my journals during recovery. My intention in this section was to help people understand what it is like to go through the above-mentioned experiences.

Volume 2 – My Mythology

The poems in this section were written between 1990 and 2015. My intention was to allow readers an insight into the sources of my creative inspiration. Again I use free verse as well as poetical forms to explore biblical imagery, Nordic influences and tales of vampires, zombies and werewolves! These poems show others what is important to me as a prose writer as well.

Volume 3 – This Is Me

This section is a compendium of real-life and fantastical imaginings and were written between 1990 and 2017. I explore how important certain things are to me; dancing, writing, the seasons, being single, being married, having cancer, and, of course, reading! This volume gives readers a different kind of insight into my everyday life and routine.

All three volumes together form a poetical auto-biography that I think is more dynamic than a prose re-telling of my life so far. This Is Me was designed so that the reader can dip in an out of it as they wish, or read great chunks at one time if they so desire.

Anyone who reads this book will understand me, the real me!

My reviews of Insides and My Mythology by Freya Pickard

Insides

I have read several memoires of journeys through the horrors of cancer and its treatment and they have been very compelling. Depicting this journey using the short and powerful lines of poems took the poet’s experiences to a higher level of emotional involvement for me. Each poem is vivid and visceral and sliced right through my heart. I related deeply to the poet’s reaction to medical confirmation of cancer which took me back to my mother’s diagnosis of cancer. I couldn’t take about it for two weeks because the shock was so great.

This book comprises of four parts and I am going to share a poem or verse from a poem from each section to illustrate the gut wrenching power of these poems.

Part One Colostomy

Stoma-ached
“my insides on my outside,
red blancmange in jellied form,
dark innards encrusting
pale, tired flesh,
interruption of natural order –
raspberry flavoured belly belches.”

Part Two Surgery
“cancer;
cancer;
barren fruit
inside my flesh,
pierced through,
cut free,
removed from
within”

Part Three Chemotherapy
“frustration of not being able to do what I
want to do; no energy to do anything

this long haul of weariness seems never-ending

endless waiting, patiently sitting in three different
waiting rooms – checking my swollen arm for clots …”

Part Four Recovery
“fogged
landscape
reveals
my future path;
life”

The poems in this book depicting cancer in all its stark reality have stayed with me. They brought back my own memories of countless waits in hospital for news – sometimes good, sometimes not so good. It feels like I’ve spend a huge portion of my life waiting for outcomes. It was psychologically uplifting to me that Freya’s treatment process, unbelievably hard as it was, had a successful outcome.

Purchase Insides from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M2UQAWJ

My Mythology

My Mythology delves into the poet’s interest in mythology and legends which is an important aspect of who she is as a person, poet, and writer. My mother is English and I was brought up on a diet of dragons, unicorns, Arthur and the knights of the round table, and other British myths and legends. My mother’s home town of Bungay has an array of ghosts and the church my mom attended as a girl is home to a famous story about the Black Shuck of Bungay. I knew all of these stories as a youngster and as I grew older, I expanded my interest into Greek and Norse mythology. As a result, I recognised many of the figures and creatures featured in this book.

The poet has written beautiful and lyrical word pictures and stories incorporating elements from various myths and legends, all of which are vivid and a delight to read. The poems are divided into ten sections: Roots, Imaginate, Oceansong, Legend, The Lizard, Fringes of Fear, Blank Mirror, Spectral Visions, Time & Space, and Deity.

I am going to share extracts from a few poems that particularly captivated me under the specific section heading.

Roots
“I am the lifting of your heart
I am a candle in the dark.

I am the cry of a new-born child
I am a cub in the bitter wild.”
from ‘Hope’

Oceansong
“The sun was dying through the mist
And in the waves that kissed the beach
Bright blue and purple, grey and green,
Tails flickered with a rainbow sheen.”
from ‘Shifting Wave of Green’

Legend
“metalled
horn spirals up
gleams between dark, liquid
eyes contrasting with his pale coat
that shines
with starlight, moonlight – luminous’
from ‘Silvered Constellation’

Deity
‘Air is
Breath of my sould,
That which will last beyond
My body’s destruction, living
Always.’
from Substance

This is a book for the dreamers of this world. Those of us that revel in the possibility of a bit of magic and wonder around the next corner. A superb book of gorgeous poems.

You can purchase My Mythology from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NGQQ3DJ

About Freya Pickard

Picture caption: author picture of Freya Pickard

Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard is the quirky, unusual author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen.

A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to rest the prose side of her brain. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing.

She finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). Her most recent relaxation techniques to get her through lockdown include hatha yoga and painting landscapes and monsters in watercolour.

Find out more about Freya and her books at https://dragonscaleclippings.wordpress.com

Freya blogs at:

https://purehaiku.wordpress.com

https://nirunen.wordpress.com

https://dragonscaleclippings.wordpress.com

Her spoken word poetry and prose can be found at https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PL9e82GWvh7Sxzb3LcN4iuHJjtZ0CVw3eB/videos

About Robbie Cheadle

Photo of Robbie Cheadle standing in front of trees.

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.

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

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen and a Japanese cooking class #Japan #bookreview

Posted: February 12, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review, Supernatural | Tags: Book Reviews, Read and Cook, Recipes, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 59 Comments

Ghost Train by Natalie Anna Jacobsen

What Amazon says

“A haunting and immersive read.” – Eva Wong Nava, author of The House of Little Sisters. “With lyrical prose that evokes the mystique of 19th-century Kyoto, this meticulously researched narrative weaves together historical authenticity with the ethereal allure of ‘yokai’ folklore.” – Jake Adelstein, journalist and author of Tokyo Vice and The Last Yakuza

Set in 1877 Kyoto during the early years of the Meiji “Restoration” Era, Ghost Train tells the story of Maru Hosokawa, a samurai daughter who is thrust into a life opposite how she grew up. Her father has surrendered his sword with other samurai, assimilating into a role as a civilian merchant. As his work takes him further and further from home, she is left to find work of her own to help rebuild the family wealth — and protect herself, “just in case,” her father says. But during the summer festivals, ghosts begin appearing before Maru. Unsure of where to turn or who to trust, Maru fends for herself, facing an abusive employer, unreliable friends, and insecurity at home. In the search for answers, a kitsune offers to help in exchange for Maru’s aid in confronting a demon rampaging Kyoto at night. As summer passes on, more ghosts appear, plagues sweep through the city, and a stench of blood in the streets, and rumors of a samurai rebellion obscure reality, driving Maru to make a choice against all instincts, to save herself, her father — and Kyoto. Inspired by true historical events and based on myths of yokai, this story began taking shape first in 2010. With guidance by historians both in Japan and the US, subject matter experts in geisha, kimono, and samurai life, and countless beta readers and supporters, Natalie Jacobsen has carefully crafted this historical fantasy to reflect 19th century life during the tumultuous, society-altering leadership of Emperor Meiji… just with a few more ghosts.

My review

Having recently visited Tokyo, Japan, and being exposed for the first time to the concepts of Japanese Yokai and other supernatural beings, this book immediately caught my attention. During my short time in Japan, I also learned a little bit about the coming of the Black Ships to Japan in 1853, which marked the beginning of the end for the Tokugawa shogunate, and the last Shogun. This book, set in Kyoto in 1877 during the Meiji Restoration Era, addresses both of these fascinating aspects of Japanese history and culture.

The story revolves around a young girl, Maru, the daughter of a former-samurai, and her journey to understanding and acceptance of the end of the reign of the samurai and transitioning of her city (and country) into a new era of progress under the ‘young’ emperor.

Maru’s father has gone away, theoretically on ‘business’ and left her in the care of the geiko of an okiya – a traditional geisha house, in the role of shikomi, a junior position to the geiko and maiko of the house. Maru clearly dislikes her new role and is struggling to make the adjustment from the daughter of a former-samurai to her new life having to survive as a woman in a misogynistic, male dominated society where women were either wives, geiko/meiko (entertainer of men) or oiran (prostitute). The fate of women, in the new society under the Emperor, was worst than before and many girls had no option but to resort to prostitution in order to survive. Maru clings to the thin hope that her father will soon come for her and her life will return to how it was in the past.

Maru is traumatised by scenes of death and destruction from the past during the period of the demise of the samurai and daimyo, and has blocked out memories relating to her father and his decisions in order to adapt to her new situation. She is also surrounded by anxiety in the general population as people, especially women, struggled to integrate their superstitions and beliefs of the past with a new society including technology like trains. Maru hears stories about yokai and disappearing girls, and is conflicted about strange metallic smells caused by rain on the new electrical wires and which are reminiscent of blood. Many people believe the train and electrical wires are killing girls and feeding on their blood as well as causing general illness. All of this anguish and mental strain ultimately manifests as visions by Maru of various yokai and also kitsune, foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. Maru meets a kitsune which has the ability to shapeshift into various forms but which is ‘damaged’ by the new technology and needs her help to survive.

Maru must walk her path alongside her kitsune manifestation to find acceptance of her father’s decisions, her own rejection by her former friends and acceptance of her new life and progress in general.

This is an exciting tale with an abundance of amazing historical information and Japanese folklore woven throughout. There are exciting scenes of conflict and a grand finale which, the way I understood this story, are effectively all part of Maru’s spiritual and mental healing, in other words, in her imagination.

This is a clever and well research story, the history is fascinating, and the folklore mesmerising. It is a complex tale that requires attention throughout and the understanding of Maru’s mental state and internal conflicts for the story to pull together effectively.

An excellent book for people who are interested in Japanese history and folklore. It helps to have some knowledge and understanding of this era of transition and cultural shock in order to best appreciate the historical nuances and information presented.

I wrote this review as a member of Rosie Amber’s book review team. You can find out more about Rosie’s reviews and review team here: https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Purchase Ghost Train from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Train-Natalie-Jacobsen-ebook/dp/B0DHSXH8FM

Cooking Sun Tokyo

During my recent trip to Japan, TC and I attended a 10-course Japanese cooking class. It was great fun and the food was delicious.

The basis of Japanese cooking is dashi stock made with water and 1 – 2 kombu strips (dried kelp seaweed). The cold method for making good dashi stock is simple. Put water into a bottle with the kombu and let it steep overnight.

The dashi is used in all the recipes of which I am sharing two here.

Dashimaki Tamago (rolled egg)

Ingredients: 1 egg, 1 TBsp dashi, 1/2 tsp light soy sauce

Method:

In a small bowl, whisk the egg, dashi and light soy sauce.

Heat the prepared Japanese rectangular egg pan after drizzling the pan with a little cooking oil. When its hot, pour half the egg mixture into the pan ensuring the egg covers the full surface. Once the egg is starting to set, use cooking chopsticks to roll the egg to the far end of the pan. Pour the rest of the egg mixture into the pan. Allow it to go under the rolled egg by lifting the roll using the cooking chopsticks. Once the fresh egg mixture sets, roll it up over the previous rolled egg to make a bigger role. Remove from the pan and place on a bamboo mat. Shape the egg roll into a rectangular shape with patterns.

Picture caption: My egg roll is finished and on the wooden board. TC is cooking his.

Picture caption: Both our egg rolls presented with two other dishes.

Grilled stuffed lotus roots with chicken

Ingredients: 30 gram portion of lotus root, 30 grams of minced chicken, finally diced Japanese leek, finally diced carrot, a little fresh ginger, 1 tsp sake, sprinkle of salt, 1/2 tsp potato starch, 1 TBsp dashi

Method:

Dice Japanese leek and carrot and mix into chicken mince. Add the grated ginger, sake, salt and potato starch.
Powder one side of the lotus root with additional potato starch. Stuff the meat mixture into the lotus root holes and layer the rest of the meat on top of the lotus root.
Heat the frying pan and place the lotus root into the pan, meat side down. Cook for approximately 3 minutes. Turn the lotus root over, pour on the dashi and steam in the pan with the lid on for about 5 minutes until cooked.

Picture caption: lotus root turned over and dashi added, just before putting the lid on the frying pan.

Picture caption: Fully cooked stuffed lotus flowers

Picture caption: TC and I with our final meals.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen 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.

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 post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

Feild of colorful flowers and butterflies in background. Digital copies of "Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend, Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans, and Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home in foreground. Text: My Backyard Friends Kid's Book Series

The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.

Get Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

Treasuring Poetry – Enjoying poetry with Dave Williams and a review of Gasp! Poetry! #TreasuringPoetry #bookreview #poetry

Posted: January 15, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | Tags: BookReview, Dave Williams, Gasp! Poetry!, Interview, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 81 Comments

Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2025 banner featuring Tokyo at night with buildings reflected in the moat waters.

I am very excited to welcome talented artist, poet, and author, Dave Williams to “Treasuring Poetry”. Dave is discussing his thoughts on poetry and I’ve reviewed his unique poetry book Gasp! Poetry!

What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc?

Freestyle. I like playful poetry, and poetry that causes me to think of stuff in different ways than my status quo. Also, I’m a big fan of short poetry about nature. Doesn’t have to be haiku. Poems that focus on one aspect of nature, be that a particular animal or plant or season. This kind of poetry is like a seed for me to meditate over that aspect of nature.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

My favorite poem by another writer is “maggie and milly and molly and may” by E. E. Cummings. I love it because it’s lively and frisky and profound. And because it reminds me of growing up near the Atlantic Ocean. And because one of my daughters is named Molly (with a capital M, not lowercase like in the poem — although she’s welcome to be creative with the capitalization of her name if she likes).

The poem:

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

Source: https://poets.org/poem/maggie-and-milly-and-molly-and-may

What is your favourite style of poetry to write? Why?

I enjoy writing freestyle the most. Limericks and haiku can be fun to write by following their rules. But I typically go with freestyle because I don’t have to worry about rhymes or syllables or meter.

What is your favourite of your own poems?

A tough question, Robbie! One poem of mine doesn’t jump out as a favorite. I looked through Gasp! Poetry! to find one to include here. I chuckled over several poems, but the poem that clicks with me right now isn’t aimed at humor. Rather, it feels hopeful:

Chickadee

Seeing an eagle,

the chickadee

aspired to greatness:

soaring high in the

Great Blue

Yet he could not

transform into that epic bird

In her son’s sullenness,

mama chickadee asked

the elders to offer wisdom

They told him

there’s a quiet dignity

in being a chickadee

and that

warmed his heart.

**Your poetry collection Gasp! Poetry! has a most unusual name and blurb. Please tell us a bit about this book, what the poems are about, and what your intentions were will the collection.**

The cover tries to warn people who have no interest in poetry. The title and cover illustration pretend what such a person’s reaction might be to a poetry book. They might throw up their hands and shriek, “Gasp! Poetry!” Then they’d run for the safety of a Non-Poetry Zone. Where, after catching their breath, they might tell other people how close they got to a poetry book and how terrifying it was. The cover uses drama for humor (hopefully).

Some poems in the book aim for silliness, while others are serious. The topics are assorted. One short poem is about a monkey taking a bath. One long poem is about how Scheherazade told a thousand tales to avoid being murdered. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, chances are good that you’ve read poems from this collection.

My intention was to package a bunch of poems on my blog, and ones that haven’t been published there yet. I hoped to entertain readers who like playfulness and absurdity in poems.

You write both novels and poetry. Which do you prefer?

Novels. Even when short, they’re more immersive than poems — which are like sketches to me (since I don’t write epic poems). I enjoy pondering possible plot paths of novels, as well as possible backgrounds of characters. It’s akin to reading a book and being immersed in the story. But with novel writing, the story can unfurl in various, potential directions. Joy is in exploring and shaping the story. So is frustration. But it’s worth the frustration when the book is finished.

My review of Gasp! Poetry!

Picture caption: Cover of Gasp! Poetry! featuring a hand drawn circle man with his arms thrown upwards in anguish.

The amusing title of this poetry collection by Dave Williams is indicative of the nature of the poetry. All of the poems are clever, slightly dark, and poke fun at humans and humanity in general. In other words, these poems are brilliant and hugely entertaining.

Is a Poem about Grains of Sand on a Beach Too Pretentious?
“I wondered that question,
lying on a floral beach towel,
a speck in a crowd
of swimsuited people –
all of us were lumps of cookie dough
glazed with sunscreen and coconut oil
baking in this oven.”
The short extract above is a great example of Dave dark humour in relation to human behaviours and his engaging descriptions.

Valor is a great example of the poet’s quick and clever mind and attitudes towards adversity:
“”You’re not sharp enough?”
“Get some sides!”

Yells were hurled from
the crowd of octagons
at the little circle.
“You look ridiculous!”

The circle puffed up
with valor,
said “I am what I am,”
refused to conform,
then rolled defiantly towards home.”

This was my favourite poem in the book. I really enjoyed the personification of shapes and it reminded me of Flatland by Edward Abbott Abbott.

There is some wonderful life wisdom encased in these freestyle poems. A short extract from Ocean Inside which captivated my mind:
“Meanwhile I work against the urge to liquefy myself
and pour myself into the container
others have sculpted for me”

Having gone through my own teenage years and watched three sisters and two sons go through theirs, I am acutely aware of how very real this pack mentality is with young people. Sometimes, people never manage to escape its grip and find their own path in life.

If you enjoy dark humour, excellent poetry, and life truths, you will love this engaging and entertaining collection.

You can purchase Gasp! Poetry! from various suppliers here: https://books2read.com/u/mBJjRk

You can find all of Dave William’s great books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dave-Williams/author/B08662D961

About Dave Williams

Picture caption: Author photograph of Dave Williams

Surely many people are named “Dave Williams” and this particular Dave is a redheaded one who enjoys writing speculative fiction, drawing, and reading. He lives in Maryland with his wonderful wife, two inspirational daughters, and two cats (a lazy one and a playful one).

You can find Dave Williams on his blog here: https://davewilliamswriter.wordpress.com/

About Robbie Cheadle

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.

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

Cook and Read – My review of A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute and Peach Chicken #CookandRead #fiction

Posted: January 8, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review, romance | Tags: A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute, Peach Chicken, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, romance, Writing to be Read | 45 Comments

Picture caption: Banner for Read and Cook, A reading and culinary adventure with Robbie Cheadle

My review of A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute

Picture caption: The cover of A Town like Alice. It’s very uninspiring and shows a dirt track.

This was my favourite classic book read of 2024. A delightful romance initially set in Malaysia during World War II and then moving between post-war London and Australia, Jean Paget’s story of strength, endurance, and leadership made for an amazingly uplifting read.

The novel commences with the main character, Jean Paget, a secretary in a leather goods factory, receiving notification from a solicitor, Noel Strachan, that she has inherited a large sum of money from an uncle she never knew. Noel is the trustee of the funds until Jean can inherit at the age of 35 years old (this age was set by the uncle who believed that women were incompetent fools who couldn’t be trusted with money until they had a family and life experience). Strachan acts as Jean’s financial advisor and, over time, a good friend. His part of the story is all the more interesting because of the secret love he develops for Jean. Noel is the narrator of the story.

Jean announces to Noel that her first priority is to build a well in a village in Malaysia and this introduces her poignant backstory as a prisoner of war in Malaysia during WW2. This part of the story is based on a real survival story which makes it all the more fascinating. Jean was working in Malaysia when the Japanese invaded and she was taken prisoner along with a large group of other European women and children. The Japanese authorities doesn’t know what to do with the group so they end up walking from one village to another for months. The lack of good food, exposure of the elements and hardship results in the deaths of a large number of the group. Jean meets an Australian soldier, Joe Harman, who is also a prisoner of war and is driving a lorry for the Japanese invaders. He tries to help the women and ultimately steals five chickens from a local Japanese commander. He is eventually caught and beaten, crucified and left to die by the Japanese soldiers. Jean believes that Jo Harman is dead. Soon after, the women’s Japanese guard dies and they take shelter in a Malaysian village for the rest of the war. Jean wishes to build a well in this village as a gesture of gratitude to the villagers who saved the lives of the remaining women and children by taking them in. During the construction of the well, Jean discovers by accident that Joe survived and returned to Australia. She decides to go in search of him in Australia and this sets the stage for the rest of the story and the romance. Joe had mentioned the town of Alice Springs during their short time as friends, and this is where Jean heads.

The writing is completely engaging and the characters of both Jean and Joe are well developed and admirable. As a reader, I become completely involved in both their stories and was rooting for their romance and success as individuals and a couple. Jean is portrayed as a strong willed survivor with a strong sense of compassion and responsibility. She is a remarkable leader and an excellent role model for young women.

Joe is portrayed as being recklessly brave and this results in his undoing. He is a very determined and strong willed person, however, an these characteristics result in his miraculous survival.

I read this book because I am interested in learning more about the war in the Pacific and the Japanese involvement in World War II. I have read several books on this topic and A Town Like Alice is the one that stands out the most in my memory. I highly recommend this book to lovers of romance and war literature.

You can purchase A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1842323008

Recipe for Peach Chicken

This recipe is based on Matt Preston’s recipe for Apricot Chicken in his book, Cook Book. I made some variations. If you are interested in purchasing Matt Preston’s book, you can do so here: https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Book-recipes-incredibly-popular-ebook/dp/B016NIBORU

Ingredients

8 chicken thighs and 8 chicken drumsticks, on the bone with skin

160 ml olive oil

1 Tbspn garlic flakes

1 heaped Tbspn dried oregano

5 ml dried thyme

1 tin peaches and the juice

24 caperberries

24 green olives, pits removed and cut in half

2 bay leaves

1 Tbspn chicken stock (powder)

Ground black pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) white wine

Method

Heat the over to 180 C. Line the bottom and sides of a oven baking dish with silver foil. Lay the chicken skin up on the bottom on the dish. In a separate bowl, mix the oil, wine, herbs and caperberries. Pour the tinned peaches over the chicken. Add the wine mixture. Lastly, place the olives over the chicken. Cover the dish with tin foil.

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Turn the oven to grill. Remove the tin foil and grill the chicken until nicely browned. Do not let the peaches burn. About 15 – 20 minutes.

Enjoy with rice.

Picture caption: My peach chicken served with rice.

About Robbie Cheadle

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 post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.

Get Your Copy Now.

Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird

Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle

Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee

In Touch With Nature – Christmas Special: Japanese Macaque (Snow Monkeys) #snowmonkeys #Japan

Posted: December 25, 2024 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Travel | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Japan, Robbie Cheadle, Snow Monkeys, Writing to be Read | 47 Comments

Picture caption: Snow monkeys in the thermal spa

For my final In Touch With Nature post of 2024, which happens to fall on Christmas Day, I am taking you 17 hours of flying time away from South Africa to Nagano in Japan (yes, the same place where the 1998 Olympic Winter Games were held).

Nagano is a very beautiful place and it is home to the Japanese Macaque or snow monkeys.

According to Wikipedia, snow monkeys are a terrestrial Old World monkey (primates in the family Cercopithecidae) species that is native to Japan. They live in areas where snow covers the ground for a significant part of the year. Snow monkeys are the only species of monkeys found in Japan and they are one of the big reasons I wanted to go to Japan when the opportunity arose (TC was offered a lead reviewer position in Tokyo for two weeks and I was expensive luggage – haha!).

We visited a wild snow monkey park in Jigokudani Yaen-koen (altitude 850 metres), located in the Valley of Yokoyu River in the northern part of Nagano. This is the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs.

These are pictures of Jigokudani Yaen-koen:

Snow monkeys have brownish grey fur, pink to red faces, and short, stumpy tails. The males weigh about 11.3 kg (25 lb) and the females weigh about 8.4 kg (19 lb). They generally move on all fours.

Snow monkeys are omnivorous and eat a variety of foods including approximately 213 species of plants, insects, bark, and soil. During the winters with heavy snowfall, the monkeys rely heavily on bark (the same as elephants during the Southern African winter which is quite interesting).

These are some of my photographs of the snow monkeys in the thermal spring:

Gallery photo caption: These are all snow monkey pictures I took with my iphone.

These are a few of the pictures I took with my camera. They are better, I think.

If you are interested in using any of my snow monkey or Mount Fuji photographs, they are available for free download from Unsplash here: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle

Two YouTube shorts of the snow monkeys:

Kaye and I wish you happy holidays and if you celebrate Christmas, may it be very merry.

A few pictures of the tree lights in Japan.

Picture caption: Tokyo tree lights street scene (I really like this picture)

Picture caption: Tokyo tree lights street scene

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Treasuring Poetry – Sunflower Tanka: An Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka collated by Colleen M. Chesebro and Robbie Cheadle #poetry #treasuringpoetry

Posted: December 18, 2024 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Anthology, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Colleen M. Chesebro, Robbie Cheadle, Sunflower Tanka, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 52 Comments

Picture caption: Banner for Treasuring Poetry, 2024

For this final post of 2024, I am sharing about Sunflower Tanka: An Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka collated by Colleen M. Chesbro and myself, Robbie Cheadle.

The theme for this collection, “Into the Light,” was influenced by how a young sunflower bud always faces the sun. This sun tracking is called heliotropism.

It is believed that sunflowers participate in heliotropism because they possess an internal clock similar to humans. This internal clock enables the plant to maximize its growth and absorb optimal energy.

The buds are heliotropic until the end of the bud stage. Upon reaching maturity, the sunflower ceases to follow the sun.

The combination of sunflowers as an emblem, and “Into the Light” as a theme is intended to throw shards of brightness out into the world. By actively seeking out happiness and sharing love and light, we can make this planet a better place for all its people and creatures.

golden sunflowers

watch Apollo’s chariot

move across the sky

from dawn’s first light to sunset

forever seeking the light

by Colleen M. Chesebro

Picture caption: Cover of Sunflower Tanka featuring a sunflower turned towards the sun on a pale pink background. Shards of light spill across the cover.

Blurb

Sunflower Tanka, edited by Robbie Cheadle & Colleen M. Chesebro, is an annual anthology of contemporary tanka, tanka prose, & experimental tanka from a broad mix of new and established poetic voices from across the world.

Our theme, “Into the Light,” draws inspiration from the way a young sunflower bud constantly turns to face the sun. Poets delved into the realms of death, love, and the natural world, capturing their human experiences in the timeless form of syllabic poetry.

Contributors to the first edition of the Sunflower Tanka: Suzanne Brace, Yvette Calleiro, Kay Castenada, Luanne Castle, Robbie Cheadle, Colleen M. Chesebro, E.A. Colquitt, Melissa Davilio, Destiny, Tamiko Dooley, Lisa Fox, Cindy Georgakas, Chris Hall, Franci Hoffman, Marsha Ingrao, Jude Itakali, JulesPaige, Kenneth, MJ Mallon, Brenda Marie, Selma Martin, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Lisa Nelson, D. Wallace Peach, Freya Pickard, Dawn Pisturino, Gwen M. Plano, Jennifer Russo, Aishwarya Saby, Reena Saxena, Merril D. Smith, Nicole Smith, Ivor Steven, Ben Tonkin, Trilce Marsh Vazquez, Cheryl Wood.

A few examples of the poetry in this book

All the poems in this book are gorgeous, so I have just randomly selected three pieces to share here:

echoes of despair

hushed as tears fail haunted eyes

silence expresses

a quiet faiths’ grip on hope

firm through darkened horizons

Tanka By Destiny

***

ash and dust reclaim

from flames of passion or shame

born this, raised as that

do butterflies from cocoons

ditch all that was, for petals?

Extract from Intertwined Essence (garland tanka) by Jude Itakali

***

within the forest
there’s a glen where children play
under a white light
where mystical faeries
flit around, happy and free

Tanka by Ivor Steven

Jacaranda Blue

As a photographer and painter, I am always trying to capture light in my work. This series of three photographs of my painting, Jacaranda Blue, was intended to demonstrate how this painting captures light in different ways.

This painting is dedicated to my amazingly artistic blogging friend, Resa McConaghy, who recently shared a most extraordinary series of articles about The Painted House. You can find the last article, with links to all the rest, here: https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2024/11/24/exterior/. In addition to her amazing photography, Resa creates the most incredible art gowns out of recycled materials. Click on Resa’s name to discover more about her gowns.

This is a short extract from my poem Jacaranda Blue, a rensaku, inspired by this painting and included in Sunflower Tanka:

dressed for a spring ball

frocks of filmy organza

Jacaranda blue

delicate forms gently swaying in softly flowing fabric

Sunflower Tanka Video

About Robbie Cheadle

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.

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

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien and a recipe for Christmas cake #bookreview #recipe #Christmas

Posted: December 11, 2024 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Books, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: Christmas, Christmas fiction, J.R.R.Tolkien, Letters From Father Christmas, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read | 43 Comments

My review

Letters to Father Christmas is Tolkien at his absolute best. A series of letters written to his own children and featuring Father Christmas as a very real and relatable person who experiences lots of setbacks, both small and large. Set over an extended period, the letters also run through World War II and explains how the war and its deprivations impact on the folk at the North Pole. Although WWII is a long time past, this messaging of resilience and making the best of things is still relevant in our modern time of uncertainty and warfare.

Father Christmas relies on his number one helper, Polar Bear, to help him in his work. As time passes and more and more children are born, Father Christmas also gets help from the elves. His elven secretary also starts assisting him with his letter writing. Polar Bear is a delightful character, full of fun and very naughty, he is always getting into trouble and creating mishaps. Father Christmas has to move house after Polar Bear tries to rescue his hat from blowing away in a wind and falls through the room and into the family room.

Father Christmas also faces adversity in the form of the hostile goblins who keep attacking his home every couple of hundred years. The goblins are mean and treacherous creatures and the folk at the North Pole have to call upon the red dwarves for assistances from their attack. An interesting way of explaining war and its meaning to young children.

A delightful book for children and adults and one I highly recommend.

You can purchase Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618512659

Quotes from Letters from Father Christmas

“if you remember him, is still fast asleep, and quite thin after so much fasting. He will soon cure that. I shall tickle his ribs and wake him up soon; and then he will eat several months’ breakfast all in one). More love, your loving Father Christmas There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your device. The caption for this content is displayed below. Christmas Eve 1934”

“I hope you will like the little things I have sent you. You seem to be most interested in Railways just now, so I am sending you mostly things of that sort. I send as much love as ever, in fact more. We have both, the old Polar Bear and I, enjoyed having so many nice letters from you and your pets. If you think we have not read them you are wrong; but if you find that not many of the things you asked for have come, and not perhaps quite as many as sometimes, remember that this Christmas all over the world there are a terrible number of poor and starving people. I (and also my Green Brother) have had to do some collecting of food and clothes, and toys too, for the children whose fathers and mothers and friends cannot give them anything, sometimes not even dinner. I know yours won’t forget you. So, my dears, I hope you will be happy this Christmas and not quarrel, and will have some good games with your Railway all together. Don’t forget old Father Christmas, when you light your tree.”

Christmas cake recipe

Picture caption: this year’s Christmas cakes are decorated with wreaths made from Lindt chocolate balls. I rather like them.

Ingredients for Christmas cake

250 grams currants

240 grams sultana

200 grams mixed berries

240 grams raisins

120 grams mixed peel

180 grams chopped cherries

300 grams plain white cake flour

pinch salt

2.5 ml mixed spice

2.5 ml cinnamon

300 grams softened butter

300 grams sticky brown sugar

30 ml lemon zest

6 eggs, lightly beaten

45 ml brandy

Method for Christmas cake

Preheat the oven to 140 degrees Celsius. Double line the cake tin with thick baking paper.

Beat the sugar and butter in an electric mixer. Add the lemon zest. Add the eggs, beating in one at a time.

In a separate bowl mix the dried fruit, spices, salt cherries and flour. Add the egg mixture and mix well. Lastly, pour in the brandy and combine.

Scoop the mixture into the baking tin and level with the back of a spoon. Wrap a layer of tin foil around the base of the baking tin and place in the oven. Bake for +- 3 hours.

Last year’s Christmas cakes had a roses theme: