Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2024 #Potluck – #poetry #spring Tanka Tuesday and Sunday Stills by Robbie Cheadle

Welcome to the series of Posts from Your Archives and I will be sharing posts from the SECOND six months of 2023 from your archives.

If you wish to be included the information is at the the end of the following post which is from the previous series, and shows you what it will look like.

This is the first post by author and poet Robbie Cheadle and is a wonderful poem and photogrophy..

Tanka Tuesday and Sunday Stills #poetry #spring 

Terri’s Sunday Stills and Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday prompts seemed to fit together perfectly this week. 

Waiting

“See you later, Daddy”

Sweet lips press his cheek

“You’re so hairy.” Copious giggles ensue

“Your beard tickles my nose”

Brief hug, then away

***

Leaning back in his chair

Sipping hot coffee

He watches them vanish; mother and daughter

Possessors of his heart

A precious pairing

***

Sun shines through the window

Spotlights bright flowers

Silent sentinels observing contentment

As he confidently

Awaits their return

Terri’s Sunday Stills prompt is Hints of Spring.

Hints and Africa are oxymorons. There is nothing subtle about southern Africa. Everything here is wild, bright, and extreme. So there are no hints at spring. One morning you wake up and spring/summer has arrived for another 9 months. Bliss!

The birds are back 

I loved the way the early morning sun created a halo around this bird’s breast

Serious nest building. I don’t know what these birds are so don’t ask, but if you know, tell me in the comments.

Eleanor on a wire – yes, I know, she is incredibly adorable.

I love this picture – Our compost heap – restaurant a la Eleanor, is behind

© Robbie Cheadle 2023

My thanks to Robbie for inviting me to share posts from her archives and I know she would love to hear from you..

A small selection of  books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle and African related stories including the new release this week Square Peg in a Round Hole.

One of the reviews for Lion Scream..

Lauren Scott 5.0 out of 5 stars An beautiful, effective poetry collection conveying a vital message.  Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸

While I turned the pages of Robbie Cheadle’s new book, I became enlightened. I absorbed the information she includes about South African wildlife and the vital message that flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Lion Scream is a unique and touching collection of poetry that takes the reader on a journey to learn about the wildlife in South Africa from Robbie’s personal experiences in the bush, but not to omit “their plight in the face of the Sixth Mass Extinction.” Her passion for wildlife is surely felt throughout the pages.

A wide variety of animals are highlighted in this collection with stunning, color photos. Animals range from lions, tigers, cheetahs, hippos, and elephants to the Hadeda bird that I had never heard of before. Robbie profoundly expresses how the habitats of these incredible animals have been lost due to global warming, and how the animals’ safety has been compromised due to the evil actions of humans, all because of greed. Robbie’s emotions are palpable through her powerful and sometimes distressing poems. The book takes a detour in the end with a short story that touches on mental health, but the story ties into the initial issue of global warming and the lost habitats.

Robbie’s poem entitled, “Lion Scream” may be short, but its message is concise and effective:

There is no jungle/Only acres of smooth stumps/There is no jungle/No habitat, no food source/Hopeless lion screams tonight

And below is a verse from the heartbreaking poem “Rhino Dilemma” –

Savage men move quickly/Hack out valued horn/Animal left bleeding; awakes to sure death/Tears of pain and anguish/Slide from fading eyes

Years ago, I read two non-fiction books about elephants, and I instantly fell in love with them. So, reading Robbie’s poems about these amazing animals and the poaching horrors they endure is beyond heart wrenching. But a few poems are playful, painting a delightful picture:

Now it’s time for some fun/Trunk draws in water/Up it comes, spraying a fountain overhead/Cool drops sprinkle downward/She trumpets with joy

A few of Robbie’s poems made me smile, but most tugged at my heart because of the serious issues of extinction, human actions that result in the animals’ suffering, and climate change. Anyone who wishes to become educated on these issues or who wishes to foster a solution where humans and animals can contentedly coexist should read Lion Scream. Highly recommended. 

Read the reviews and Buy the books : Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Robbie : Goodreads – blog: Robbie’s Inspiration- Twitter: @bakeandwrite

About Robbie Cheadle

Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published fourteen children’s books and two poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

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

The eleven Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.

Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews. Robbie’s Inspiration

How to feature in the series?

• All I need you to do is give me permission to dive in to your archives and find two posts to share here on Smorgasbord either by leaving a note in the comments or by emailing me. (sally.cronin@moyhill.com)
• Rather than a set topic, I will select posts at random of general interest across a number of subjects from the last six months of 2023. (it is helpful if you have a link to your archives in your sidebar by month)
• As I will be promoting your books as part of the post along with all your information and links so I will not be sharing direct marketing or self- promotional posts in the series.
• If you are an author I am sure you will have a page on your blog with the details, and an ‘about page’ with your profile and social media links (always a good idea anyway). I will get everything that I need.
• As a blogger I would assume that you have an ‘about page’ a profile photo and your links to social media.
• Copyright is yours and I will ©Your name on every post… and you will be named as the author in the URL and subject line.
• Previous participants are very welcome to take part again.
• Each post is reformatted for my blog and I don’t cut and paste, this means it might look different from your own post especially if you are using the block editor

N.B – To get the maximum benefit from your archive posts, the only thing I ask is that you respond to comments individually and share on your own social media.. thank you.