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Scribbles, Rhymes, and Lima Beans: Poems that grow on you
Scribbles, Rhymes, & Lima Beans is a collection of poetry inspired by the moments that make us grow. Ranging from light and funny to thoughtful and reflective, these poems address the joys and struggles of love, family, and chasing dreams.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2023
2 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Waldburger
3 books7 followersWhen not moonlighting as a writer, I daylight as a middle school teacher who talks about writing. In my limited spare time, I enjoy reading, drawing portraits, learning languages, and trying to convince myself that I can be a gardener. I live in Wisconsin with my amazing husband, two wild children, two clingy cats, and a houseful of dying plants.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 10, 2023
Wow! personal, heartfelt and beautiful
I wish I could give this collection six stars!
The poems are divided into three sections. Raspberries, about life, Rhymes, about writing and creativity, and Lima beans about growth and renewal.
I loved all the poems. They are both deeply personal and strikingly beautiful.
Some of my favorites were:
1. Raspberries - about memory, this sweet poem builds to tell a moving story.
2. Argument - I love the metaphor and sentiment in this poem, but the language, especially in the second half, blew me away with its power. I would love to perform this piece. Its powerful words are almost structural in their composition.
3. Pink - a moving poem about the feminine and how society despises it.
4. Masterpiece - a beautiful poem about self acceptance and love.
5. Words - ah! The power of words, so powerfully conveyed.
6. Critique - a meaningful poem, which has a message I heartily agree with.
7. First House - like many of the poems in this section, it is achingly beautiful.
8. Spare bedrooms - beautifully conveyed sentiment and a reminder that we must all be compassionate and kind to each other.
9. New Love - what a stunning love poem!
The author is an extremely skilled poet who crafts jewels with words. This collection shines brightly.
I wish I could give this collection six stars!
The poems are divided into three sections. Raspberries, about life, Rhymes, about writing and creativity, and Lima beans about growth and renewal.
I loved all the poems. They are both deeply personal and strikingly beautiful.
Some of my favorites were:
1. Raspberries - about memory, this sweet poem builds to tell a moving story.
2. Argument - I love the metaphor and sentiment in this poem, but the language, especially in the second half, blew me away with its power. I would love to perform this piece. Its powerful words are almost structural in their composition.
3. Pink - a moving poem about the feminine and how society despises it.
4. Masterpiece - a beautiful poem about self acceptance and love.
5. Words - ah! The power of words, so powerfully conveyed.
6. Critique - a meaningful poem, which has a message I heartily agree with.
7. First House - like many of the poems in this section, it is achingly beautiful.
8. Spare bedrooms - beautifully conveyed sentiment and a reminder that we must all be compassionate and kind to each other.
9. New Love - what a stunning love poem!
The author is an extremely skilled poet who crafts jewels with words. This collection shines brightly.
July 3, 2023
Scribbles, Rhymes, and Lima Beans by Rachael Waldburger is a poignant poetry collection that is divided into three parts. Per the author’s note at the beginning, Scribbles is about life and love; Rhymes is about writing, art, and inspiration; and Lima Beans is about growth and renewal. However, there is so much more to be found and recognized throughout this collection.
The poetry of Scribbles describes a nostalgic love the author has for her grandparents and a past crush, and the act of falling in love. In what becomes a theme tying together all three collections, Waldburger also gives us the first hint of divisiveness and dichotomy. Her first poem, The Wall, gives us a stark, yet short, literal description of the purpose of all walls—to bear the weight of division. The next few poems, “Lying on My Back in October,” “Raspberries,” “Running,” and “Old Crush,” seem to represent life and the wonder of love in its different forms and the hope it carries within. The following poems, “Argument,” “Realization,” “Wild-Grown,” and “Wolf” describe life and the lack of love and all that comes along with that emptiness. The rest of this section rotates between this dichotomy of what happens when love is present (and the idea of growth is introduced) and when love is absent due to ineptitude or just losing the very people we love dearly. Two of my favorite poems describing finding love in this section are “Knight Errant” and “Tilting at Windmills.”
The poetry of the second section, Rhymes, takes the themes Waldburger has introduced us to in Scribbles and expands on those while exploring writing, art, and inspiration. She deftly explores learning the rules of poetry and breaking them, rhyming (though most of the poems in this section do not adhere to conventional rhyming schemes), and the art of writing poetry. She tells (naming art pieces, constellations, and poets) and shows us what inspires her words and how those words find their way to the page. One of the most nostalgic poems for me in this section, “Poetry Purrs,” appears to show inspiration from E. E. Cummings and Carl Sandburg. This poem reminded me of the eighth grade when I began to fall in love with poetry. Carl Sandburg was my introduction, and suddenly I felt transported back to little cat feet.
Honestly, before reading the last section, I wasn’t sure about lima beans being about growth and renewal, other than I had to grow to like them as an adult. However, Waldburger, being the descriptive writer she is, shows us how to connect lima beans and growth in a comforting way. She transports us through the seasons of life, the plans we make while filled with uncertainty and hope, and plans realized as she becomes a mother. The poems in this section are longer and filled with more contemplative language than the previous two sections. She also continues the dichotomy of love that is present and love that is absent. And in the penultimate poem from which this collection is named, we find how lima beans and growth are connected. I will leave this discovery for you.
Overall, this poetry collection is well thought out. The overall theme that brings the collection together is not only evident in the poems themselves; my paperback edition has poems of differing points of view facing one other across the binding. There is a natural ebb and flow of life, love, and loss throughout that begs me to pick it up once again to see what I missed in the first read-through.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. This review is honest and voluntary.
The poetry of Scribbles describes a nostalgic love the author has for her grandparents and a past crush, and the act of falling in love. In what becomes a theme tying together all three collections, Waldburger also gives us the first hint of divisiveness and dichotomy. Her first poem, The Wall, gives us a stark, yet short, literal description of the purpose of all walls—to bear the weight of division. The next few poems, “Lying on My Back in October,” “Raspberries,” “Running,” and “Old Crush,” seem to represent life and the wonder of love in its different forms and the hope it carries within. The following poems, “Argument,” “Realization,” “Wild-Grown,” and “Wolf” describe life and the lack of love and all that comes along with that emptiness. The rest of this section rotates between this dichotomy of what happens when love is present (and the idea of growth is introduced) and when love is absent due to ineptitude or just losing the very people we love dearly. Two of my favorite poems describing finding love in this section are “Knight Errant” and “Tilting at Windmills.”
The poetry of the second section, Rhymes, takes the themes Waldburger has introduced us to in Scribbles and expands on those while exploring writing, art, and inspiration. She deftly explores learning the rules of poetry and breaking them, rhyming (though most of the poems in this section do not adhere to conventional rhyming schemes), and the art of writing poetry. She tells (naming art pieces, constellations, and poets) and shows us what inspires her words and how those words find their way to the page. One of the most nostalgic poems for me in this section, “Poetry Purrs,” appears to show inspiration from E. E. Cummings and Carl Sandburg. This poem reminded me of the eighth grade when I began to fall in love with poetry. Carl Sandburg was my introduction, and suddenly I felt transported back to little cat feet.
Honestly, before reading the last section, I wasn’t sure about lima beans being about growth and renewal, other than I had to grow to like them as an adult. However, Waldburger, being the descriptive writer she is, shows us how to connect lima beans and growth in a comforting way. She transports us through the seasons of life, the plans we make while filled with uncertainty and hope, and plans realized as she becomes a mother. The poems in this section are longer and filled with more contemplative language than the previous two sections. She also continues the dichotomy of love that is present and love that is absent. And in the penultimate poem from which this collection is named, we find how lima beans and growth are connected. I will leave this discovery for you.
Overall, this poetry collection is well thought out. The overall theme that brings the collection together is not only evident in the poems themselves; my paperback edition has poems of differing points of view facing one other across the binding. There is a natural ebb and flow of life, love, and loss throughout that begs me to pick it up once again to see what I missed in the first read-through.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. This review is honest and voluntary.
July 16, 2023
Absolutely loved this moving & beautiful collection poems by Rachael Waldburger.
I don't usually read poetry but this book came highly recommended, and I am very glad I did. Each poem packs a punch, as the author takes us on a moving journey across love, grief, and suffering. Beautifully written, lyrical, the rhythm of each poem was just right. One or two brought a tear to my eye, several I wanted to print out and stick on my walls for regular reading, but they were all wonderful.
These are poems that can be enjoyed by those who have read little or no poetry since school (like myself) as much as those well-versed (so to speak).
I don't usually read poetry but this book came highly recommended, and I am very glad I did. Each poem packs a punch, as the author takes us on a moving journey across love, grief, and suffering. Beautifully written, lyrical, the rhythm of each poem was just right. One or two brought a tear to my eye, several I wanted to print out and stick on my walls for regular reading, but they were all wonderful.
These are poems that can be enjoyed by those who have read little or no poetry since school (like myself) as much as those well-versed (so to speak).
August 22, 2023
I belong to a group on Facebook - The BookLounge for Readers and Authors and Rachael is a member of that group. I was inspired by her story to buy the book. It actually shipped from Amazon quite quickly.
The poems resonate with me. All of us go through Life and have awesome moments and not so awesome moments. This book resonates with me and I see myself in many of the poems.
A Big Thank You Rachael for writing this book and for sharing your poetry to the world. You are an inspiration and a joy. Blessings to you.
The poems resonate with me. All of us go through Life and have awesome moments and not so awesome moments. This book resonates with me and I see myself in many of the poems.
A Big Thank You Rachael for writing this book and for sharing your poetry to the world. You are an inspiration and a joy. Blessings to you.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews