Please enjoy this excellent post from Roberta Eaton Cheadle!
Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors: Blood River Heritage Site and W3 Prompt #70: Wea’ve Written Weekly – The Gun Tree #Doors #poetry #battles
During our recent trip to KwaZulu-Natal, we visited the Blood River Heritage Site.
This is what Wikipedia says about The Battle of Blood River:
The Battle of Blood River (16 December 1838) was fought on the bank of the Ncome River, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 464 Voortrekkers (“Pioneers”), led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Zulu. Estimations of casualties amounted to over 3,000 of King Dingane’s soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes competing with Prince Mpande for the Zulu throne. Three Voortrekker commando members were lightly wounded, including Pretorius.
Blood River is of particular interest to me because my husband is a direct descendant of Andre Pretorius.
I mention this landmark battle in my book, A Ghost and His Gold. This is the relevant extract:
Pieter watched the young messenger, whose name was Adrian Opperman, part from his mother, who was one of the women brave enough to have accompanied her husband and son to the laager.
“Goodbye my son. Let your ways be in the fear of the Lord. If I do not see you again on earth, I pray to find you again in heaven.”
His heart constricted at this touching parting and he wondered if they would see each other again. He thought of the wording of the vow taken by his pioneer ancestors, the Voortrekkers, before the Battle of Blood River on the 16th of December 1838 when four hundred and seventy Voortrekkers, led by Andries Pretorius, fought against ten thousand Zulu warriors on the bank of the Ncome River.
We stand here before the Holy God of heaven and earth, to make a vow to Him that, if He will protect us and give our enemy into our hand we shall keep this day and date every year as a day of thanksgiving like a Sabbath, and that we shall build a house to His honour wherever it should please Him, and that we will also tell our children that they should share in that with us in memory for future generations. For the honour of His name will be glorified by giving Him the fame and honour for the victory.
The words of this vow gave Pieter comfort.
These are my doors pictures from The Blood River Heritage Site for Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors challenge. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/08/31/more-from-morgantown/
W3 Prompt #7: Wea’ve Written Weekly
The Gun Tree by Robbie Cheadle
Guns
Bullets
Shiny new
Ready for use
Against dissenters
Regardless of their cause
Women and children punished
For the actions of their menfolk
Innocent blood amply watering
The ground that once sheltered and protected
Staining the earth black, splashing the growing crops
A fresh graveyard of dead animals and owners
Fragile houses riddled with holes – scene of destruction
Savagery wins
Rules unopposed
People succumb
To new regime
Hope disappears
Tree of life falls
This week’s prompt is as follows:
The change of seasons can be tough on us. It can shake our core and disturb our balance. The trees are a perfect example of how to adapt to changes. The branches and leaves flow with the wind and trees get bare or full of leaves, however, a tree’s strength is in the roots.
Let the words above inspire you and write a poem in “Tree of Life” poetic form about changes, impermanence, and strength.
‘Tree of Life’ poetic form
- An uplifting poem in 19 lines;
- Syllabic: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-4-4-4-4-4-4;
- Unrhymed;
- Alignment: Centered
You can read more about it and/or join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/08/30/w3-prompt-70-weave-written-weekly/
charles french words reading and writing 
This was a wonderful post. Robbie’s decedents are especially important. The Blood River museum is a backdrop for her powerful poetry.
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Yes, it is powerful!
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