After a hiatus from blogging Lauren is back!
I’m thrilled and honoured to be part of Lauren’s return!
Tag: Poetry
Square Peg in a Round Hole – by Robbie Cheadle
This honest exposé of Africa’s nature highlights Robbie’s love for all flora and fauna.
Writing a review for this book of poetry, photography and art is truly like sticking a square peg in a round hole. It defies categorization. Yes, it is well crafted, entertaining and informative. However, it strikes out beyond those adjectives. It teaches, with heart.
Resa – Near the beginning of the book is a heart touching & humorous free form poem – The Visitor. What bird is depicted, and did you really have this visitor?
Robbie – The visitor is our semi-tame hadeda, Eleanor. She lives on our property with a male bird, although he disappears sometimes and she is always around. I feed her occasionally but not often enough for her to lose her independence as a wild bird. She will wander into my house if she gets the opportunity. I don’t mind her visiting but she can get a little upset if she can’t find her way out again. Then I have to help her. The information in that poem about the loerie birds is also true. We don’t net our fruit trees anymore.
Robbie – There is another poem in the book about our loeries being the fattest birds in the city.
Resa – I was going to ask about that poem. It makes me feel happy. I love it!
Fat Birds (shadorma)
Mangled fruit
Product of guzzling
Plump loeries
Eat and eat
I'll have to build a runway
Fattest birds in town
Resa – Growing up in Canada we had an American TV show called “Wild Kingdom”. Often it depicted the animals of Africa. They were wild, free, mysterious and dangerous. Did you have a nature show like that? Or, how did you learn about African animals?
Robbie – I have never really watched TV. It was late coming to South Africa and I never developed the habit. I always read a lot though, and one of my favourite series was Willard Price’s animal adventure books. I became very interested in the plight of wild animals as a result of these books, although at that time they mainly focused on poaching and the illegal animal trade. Interestingly, Willard Price was a Canadian.
Robbie – Later in my life, National Geographic magazines came to South Africa and I bought them every month. I had piles and piles of them and ended up giving them away each time my family moved house (21 times during my pre-marital years). After I met my husband, we started going to game farms whenever we could afford it. I’ve learned a huge amount from the various guides and game rangers.
Resa – Then, there’s climate change.
Robbie – Climate change started coming to my attention in the ’90s, but I never really thought about it in connection with our wild animals until the early 2000s. Over my adult life to date, more and more animals have become endangered to a point where the list of ‘least concern’ animals is much shorter than the endangered list. Many ‘least concern’ animals are actually in danger of disappearing due to habitat loss. Over the past 15 years, I’ve become a lot more involved in promoting the plight of our animals and doing what I can to help support them.
King of the Beasts
“To a Lion” is a contemporary poem, that travels, with images, over 6 pages. The reality of the plight of this majestic animal is beyond what people want to comfortably know. I say the truth hurts, especially when one confronts “Canned Hunting”
Resa – When did you learn about “Canned Hunting”?
Robbie – I despise hunting. I don’t understand it and I don’t support it. Canned hunting came to my attention about 15 years ago when I overheard a few of the guides at a game farm talking about it. I didn’t know the term prior to that. According to World Atlas, there are approximately 7,000 lions held in captivity in between 160 and 200 canned hunting breeding farms in South Africa.
Excerpt from To A Lion
You've seen your peers shot - their heads stuffed and mounted
Victims of canned hunting
Perpetrated by fools who do not appreciate your beauty
Or the vital role you play
In the maintenance of the African ecosystems
And all its amazing creatures
“The Story of the Desperate Salesman” (99 syllable double ennead) and “Nest Selection” (freestyle) are of intrigue to me. The male Weaver bird builds a nest to attract a female. If a female doesn’t accept his nest, he dismantles it. Then he builds another more elaborate than the preceding nest.
Excerpt from The Story of the Desperate Salesman
He's been building for days
King of construction
Improving his intricate weaving techniques
Working from dawn to dust
Then comes marketing
This building and dismantling is repeated until a female moves in. Somehow this parallels certain thoughts I have about societies, ergo nations. Lots to say about what this “little bird told me”, but then I’d need to write an essay.
Robbie’s poems & photos took me on a journey that was visual, emotional and introspective. A bonus to the entire experience is I learned a lot about poetic form through example. In brackets beside her poems are the types of poetic structures they are written in.
Ekphrastic Poetry with photograph contributions by Wayne Barnes, photographer
Robbie winds up her poetic offerings inspired by the wildlife photos of Wayne Barnes.
Resa – The tone of the poetry is similar to the first part of your book, but takes on an “I want to be free” vibe, with positive suggestion and encouragement. Am I right to think and feel that?
Robbie– Wayne’s photographs are wonderful. You are exactly right in your summary of the poems written in combination with Wayne’s pictures: they are “I want to be free” expressions and do include positive suggestion and encouragement.
Resa – You’ve used mostly Wayne’s bird shots. Is there a reason for that?
Robbie – I believe that is why I chose so many birds for these combos. I see birds as being free creatures that move about and have the compete freedom of the skies. I’ve always though being a bird would be delightful.
One of Wayne’s stunning bird beauties is at 10 seconds in the video below.
The opening words on the promo video above are from one of Michael Cheadle’s nine poems at the end of the book. His work stands on its own. He is a terrific writer, and I felt his pain. He sent this quote, when I asked about it.
Michael – “Writing poems about my anxieties helps clear them out of my mind.”
In the photo below, Robbie holds one of her novels, “A Ghost And His Gold”. This book is a superlative read. Read my review! There is so very much to say about Robbie, that you should just go to her about page!
Robbie is a prolific writer. You can find her books on Amazon sites around the globe. Just search “Robbie Cheadle” for children and youth books – “Roberta Eaton Cheadle” for adult books.
Some of her books are also available on KOBO.
Visit Robbie on her blogs:
Roberta Writes and Robbies Inspiration
The videos in this post are from Robbies YouTube Channel On her site there are all kinds of videos of African animals and more.
The stills in the post are by Robbie and you can download them for free on Robbie’s Unsplash Page
The stunning Lion art is © Robbie Cheadle
Leonard Cohen ~ His Last Years
I had no idea Cohen was such a tortured soul. Thank you to Holly for the insightful tribute to this one-of-a-kind poet, writer and musician.
Behind the Song: Suzanne
I’m not sure who the singer was the first time I ever heard the song “Suzanne”, but it wasn’t Leonard Cohen. I adored it. A couple of decades passed before I realized Leonard Cohen wrote the song. Later, I found out it had originally been a poem.
Who better than to fill in more of the gaps, than Holly. A brilliant poet in her own right, she has inspired me greatly.
Ever So Gently – by Lauren Scott
“Ever So Gently” by Lauren Scott reads like an Impressionist painting looks.
Lavender, salmon, watermelon, pale green, turquoise, gold, corals, pink, lemon yellow and blue are all in the poet’s word palette.
Resa – Were the poems written in a sort of order, or did you write what you felt, quite randomly, and then organize them?
Lauren – I wrote them when I felt inspired, so no, they weren’t written in any order.
Resa – Did you create the 3 parts when you began, I mean did you know you were writing in 3 topic areas off the start, or did that evolve?
Lauren – Some poems are on my blog and some aren’t. So, I went through the most recent poems on and off my blog and chose the ones I wanted in a book. Then I categorized them, and during that process, the 3 topics evolved.
The commonality in each section is that the syllabic poems are at the end.
In “The Wisdom of Nature” and “Lost in Thought” the order is random.
Resa – Ahh, in “The Wisdom of Nature” I love the poem “In Good Company”. In it you write:
Resa – You hug redwood trees, and thank them with reverence. More, they impart peace, a wisdom and joy unto you.
Lauren – When we moved to the bay area in California, I was introduced to a state park only 20 minutes from our house. You enter the park, and though it’s not far away in distance, you literally feel like you’ve entered a magical wonderland. Redwoods surround you for a day visit, a picnic in the park, or for a fun camping adventure. You stroll along the creek, captivated by their majestic presence. We’ve been to this park a million times, but each time feels like the first.
Ever since I stepped foot in this park, I’ve been in awe of redwoods. It’s incredible how they can grow to be over 300 feet tall, being the tallest in the world. And they can live to be 1,000 years old. That’s just incredible. When I look at them I feel a sense of safety, wisdom, communication, and yet, renewed energy.
Resa – Have you hugged other types of trees? Do different trees each transmit their unique essence to your spirit?
Lauren – I would say yes. When we’ve backpacked, other trees surround us and they’re beautiful, but I don’t feel the same enchantment. So, I can’t really comment about other trees like I can about redwoods.
Lauren – In “The Noise, The Laughter, The Chaos, The Loved Ones” I began with “The World is Broken” because it’s personally a special poem to me. Then I continued with my husband – before and when we met, and as we were married longer. Then the kids, parents, in-laws, sisters, pets…Love in every facet of life.
From: “The Blue Down Jacket”
Resa – Is the jacket an actual jacket, or a personified metaphor? If real, is it still with you, bringing memories of his mother?
Lauren – Yes, the jacket is real and we still have it. In fact, it will accompany us on our camping trip next week. It’s still loyal (smile), and reminds us of Matt’s mom who died at the age of 59. Way too young. She died the same year our daughter (first child was born). 
Lauren – She knew I was pregnant, so the bright side is that she knew she’d be a grandma for the first time. But our daughter and grandma never got to meet. This has always been profound in Steph’s heart. Nor did she meet Michael. Very sad. She would’ve been such a doting grandma. The poem “Diane” is about her.
From “Diane”
Many poems include the family dog, Copper. I adore reading about him, and all the love. Every time I read these lines from the poem “Copper”, I break into a massive chuckle.
Resa – Were there dogs in your life before Copper? When you were a kid?
Lauren – When I was young, we had Duffy, a black cocker spaniel mix who lived to be 16. Some time after he died, we got Jasper, a springer spaniel. He was my first dog to grow up with. He lived to be 14 and died when Matt and I started dating. I cried for that entire weekend and Matt still married me! 🙂 We’re inching towards our 35th anniv.
But before Copper, our family had Lucky Girl, a black lab mix. She was our children’s first dog. There’s a poem in the book about her.
Lauren says to be kind to animals, and adopt a mutt or a rescue!
Resa – I felt Parts 1 & 2 were descriptions/paintings of many people, emotions, places, loves, nature, moments and more. In part 3, I see a dive into your inner self. You ask questions, solve problems, give advice and extend hope.
What do you say to my observation? Was this your intent?
Lauren – You have described the sections perfectly. So, yes, part 3, that was absolutely my intention. Many thoughts or scenarios to ponder. A few weren’t so uplifting, but that’s life. Life isn’t always a sunflower field. 🙂 But hope always waits in the shadows, ready to flow in when ‘she’ feels it’s necessary.
Resa – The poem “Ever So Gently” is a perfect summary to this.
Lauren – I’m glad you feel that way about “Ever So Gently”, and before I had a book title, when I came across that poem, it just clicked.
Resa – Lauren, I was thinking of putting the poem “Ever So Gently” at the end of the post. I’ve changed my mind. If ever there was a spoiler for a book of poetry, “Ever So Gently” is it!
I read the poems in order, but not at first. Deciding to try a different approach, I dove into the book like it was a box of chocolates. I read whatever poem in any order, as the fancy lead. Yet, as delicious as it all was; it’s more than confection.
It’s like collecting beautiful fabrics and trims. Poems were read, materials collected and a pattern designed. When the poems were over, they had draped a rich, beautifully adorned gown over my spirit.
Visit Lauren On Her Blog – Baydreamer
Click on the cover of “Ever So Gently” to buy it on Amazon. Click on the cover of “More Than Coffee” to but it on KOBO. Both venues carry both books, as well as Lauren’s other 2 books: “Finding a Balance” – “New Day New Dreams”
Photo details of Impressionist paintings by Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926) and Helen McNicoll (Canadian, 1879-1915) © by Resa – July 19, 2023 – Exterior Art Gallery of Ontario
Tender Places
Beautiful words with a message. Thank you, Holly! ❤️🌹
The small lake shimmers with light
reeds rustle beneath
the feet of a fawn.
Leaning forward her pink tongue
curls backward
spattering the sweetness of life
into her nose and eyes.
Spotted ears pull sideways,
heeding the sigh of the forest,
the breath of a breeze.
The kiss of sunlight transforms
green to autumn gold, brown and rust.
beyond the edge of the wood
summer collides with fall
in tender places of the wild.
Do No Harm
River Ghosts – Merril D. Smith
“In memory of my mother, Sylvia L. Schreiber … your laugh still echoes.”
Merril D. Smith’s mother passed away in the early days of Covid, in the days when there was no holding of hands, no kisses, no embraces and a veil of lonely shrouding all hearts.
Nonetheless, Merril does not pour a bucket of inconsolable tears into her poems, but rather flows with a river, a river that has many rocky climbs to solid land and ancient trees reaching over its waters. It is upon this river she reflects.
I was 10 poems into the book. Then, on one of my street art hunts, I came upon this mini-mural. There is a constant flowing of blue, with abstract flowers and leaves. I thought, this is like Merril’s book.
To me the blue ribbon is the river, with all its tributaries. Everything else, each flower and leaf is a poem, an insight, or a ghost washing the shore.
The author uses many styles of poetic writing, to effectively create messages. Combined with familial love & experiences, her knowledge of history and adoring appreciation of nature, this book is a rendering of heart.
Always sincere, never maudlin, Merril’s poems have swept me onto the river of ghosts.
With the author’s permission, I get to include 1 short poem or part of a longer poem, in my review. After much deliberation, I have chosen:
One poem titled – In Memoriam: Their Names is “Inspired by the plague graffiti found on the walls of Cambridgeshire church”. I found the impetus evoking and the poem shivering my eyes.
Click on the ghost pic below and go read a fabulous article about this graffiti from 1515.
I’m sure you are piqued by In Memoriam: Their Names. So, to read this coup de maître, and the rest of Merril’s masterpiece, click on my last ghost offering below. It will take you to her book on Amazon.
OR, if you are boycotting Amazon (like me), you can buy a PDF, Print or Kindle copy from “Nightingale & Sparrow”. Just click on their moniker below, and you will be on its page. (They take PayPal!)
Graffiti Lux Art & More 
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