Ingrid Wilson, who taught me how to write a sonnet, has been one of my favorite poets for quite a long time. She is also a great photographer. Visit her blog at
https://experimentsinfiction.com.
Ingrid is Editor-in-Chief of her own publishing company, EIF, Experiments in Fiction.
Katey Gets a Kiss from Skipper, the Dolphin, at Theater of the Sea, Islamorada, Florida.
Cheryl, Katey, (about Age 5), and a Baby Alligator. Florida Everglades
Hanging Out with Wild Animals
II & III,
Two Books to be Republished
These two books are no longer available except for the ebooks. They will be republished under my copyright as soon as possible. Unfortunately, dishonest publishers have kept most royalties from my books for the last five years.
You can check out self-publishers on the “Writer Beware” website to rule out many of the dishonest ones.
I am working on eventually getting every book under my name and copyright so that publishers can never keep my royalties again. This has happened to many self-published authors. Don’t let it happen to you!
I hope you will be hearing good things about my books in the coming year or two. Cross your fingers for me; I will cross mine for you. As my late husband’s grandma used to say, “May all your dreams and wishes come true.” ❤️
Copyright© 2023 by Cheryl Batavia
“One Earth”
The poem,”One Earth” perfectly expresses my perspective on Planet Earth. It will appear in the “Mother Nature” Chapter of Life on the Blue Planet.
Book Fairs & Trade Shows
For the last few weeks, I have been working hard preparing materials for the Children’s Book Expo in Shanghai in November, and the Frankfurt Book Fair, in October. I am also working to prepare for the Taipei Trade Show in February. My books will be exhibited and represented at these events, but I will not be present. If you go, please send me a photo or two! 😊
Dr. Jane Goodall
The world lost a groundbreaking researcher this week. Dr. Jane Goodall, who lived for many years among chimpanzees, died this week at the age of 91. Her reasearch revealed new information about the habits and social life of chimpanzees that revolutionized the way we think about animal behavior. 😄
There are many well-researched tributes to Jane Goodall online. Two that I enjoyed are:
“Instagram: Jane Goodall UK” by Selma Martin, 10/5/25 Selma
“Honoring the Life of Jane Goodall” by Michele Lee, 10/1/25 myinspiredlife.com
Personal Note
Lately, I have to enlarge small print in order to read it. After I have clicked “Reply,” I sometimes discover typos in my comments that I couldn’t see before. I think it may soon be time to schedule my cataract surgery. Please don’t judge me too harshly for the typos.😂
Have a great week!💕
Wild things face deportation from woodlands.
‘Dozers fell trees animals call home.
Animals, seeking asylum,
head for the next wooded lot.
Finding sanctuary,
displaced refugees…
squirrels and birds
crowd feeders…
Oh, how
sad!
On
morning
excursions,
I see “progress”…
human immigrants
expertly constructing
beautiful new human homes.
Fascinated from early childhood
with watching men and women at work…
noise, dust, wildlife displacement…still I watch!
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
For the last couple of months, I have been experiencing heart symptoms again. Last week, I ended up in the hospital for an emergency angioplasty for a blocked stent in my heart. I was in the hospital for a couple of days and am recovering at home. After all of our recent surgeries, both Robert and I are OK, but quite tired.
All photos were taken by Ellen Maher and Katey Batavia at Robert is Here: farmer’s market, antique farm equipment, animals to feed, and so much more!
Ellen and Katey brought me a delicious papaya and a perfect avocado from Robert is Here.
Cute springtime babies
exploring Robert is Here,
staying close to Mom.
Babies, winsome and sweet,
captivating visitors.
The baby goat hanging out in the background doesn’t seem interested in lettuce yet.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Happy Memorial Day!
Hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend.
Take a moment to appreciate those who died in defense of your country. Think about the values they were defending. Support democracy, and fight to preserve the rights and freedoms promised to you in the Constitution.
Birdsong delights us
on peaceful, mid-summer nights…
sighing, “Whippoorwill!”
Scanning starry skies…
We ponder the vast cosmos,
the far reach of time.
Summer thunderstorm…
We lie in bed, listening
to rain on the roof.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Here, on the SW Florida Gulf Coast, the temperatures are rising, and grass is parched and brown. Yesterday, we got several brief thunder showers, our first hints of welcome summer rains. Today, the sky is overcast, promising more rain. We need it!
Happy summer! A little early for our friends in other locales, but heartfelt!
(Cheryl Batavia’s daughters, Ellen and Katey, meet Skipper, the bottle-nosed dolphin, and his trainer.)
(belly rub)
(It’s not polite to stick out your tongue.)
(Ellen playing the piano, Skipper singing!)
(Katey playing the piano, Skipper singing!)
Photos taken by a Theater of the Sea photographer. Please give credit if you use them.
This is a highlight of the vacation my daughters and I planned together. Due to a last minute emergency, I was unable to go on the trip. These photos make me feel like I was there.
Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, FL has various animals, many of them rescue animals, on display. There are sea turtles, rays, seals, and other animals to observe or encounter.
I hope you enjoy the vintage music. I also considered “Splish Splash!” by Bobby Darren. It didn’t quite fit, but it was fun!
Birds singing…
Phone ringing!
Open your eyes.
to today’s surprise,
a gorgeous sunrise!
Don shoes and pants.
Step around fire ants!
Feed birds, water plants.
Bye, birds! Parting glance.
Taking a shower, getting dressed…
Phone ringing… don’t get stressed!
Hucksters calling; I’m not impressed.
Morning walk… escaping these pests!
Cloudless sky, sunshine… mind rests.
Sitting down to eat breakfast, stress-free,
anticipating world news updates on TV…
Politicians debating… can’t seem to agree.
Storms, fires, wars, crimes… Goodness me!
Ads played loudly, repeat, repeat endlessly…
Enough! Time for a wildlife documentary!
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
This is a ziggurat poem, a fun form invented by Paul Szlosek that I like to play with occasionally. His website is Paul’s Poetry Playground. Ziggurat poems are often written about humorous topics. The poem has the shape of a ziggurat, or step-pyramid. Each verse has lines with the same end rhymes.
The title is the first verse and has one word. The second verse is 2 lines of 2 words. The third verse consists of 3 lines of 3 words. The fourth verse has 4 lines of 4 words, and the fifth verse has 5 lines of 5 words.
I broke the rules by adding a sixth verse to this poem. 😎
Wishing everyone a beautiful day… informed, productive, but inspired and entertained as well. 💕
Crisis of the day
resolved by evening phone call.
Movie with popcorn.
Midnight Scrabble game.
Drowsy, drifting off to sleep,
soothed by pleasant dreams.
Awakening late.
Soulmate snoring beside me,
ticking of the clock.
Cozy under quilt.
Slowly, consciousness returns…
haiku on my mind.
Bright, cheery sunshine.
Birds sing morning melodies,
fly in for breakfast.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
With vultures, I’d gladly traverse the sky,
surrounding atmosphere so clear, so pure.
Above blue mountains, eagerly I’d fly,
but dining with vultures holds no allure!
Two butterflies take flight on dazzling wings,
in nectared frenzy, sweetly procreate.
Though watching them flying, my spirit sings,
to fly, then die, would be a tragic fate!
With ospreys, I’d fly over seas and streams;
An ocean-view nest is all I could wish.
Their seaside lifestyle haunts my dreams,
but dreams of flight don’t mean I like to fish!
Of course, I could just book an airplane flight.
On second thought, a walk would be just right!
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Gulf Coast Poet 