Smorgasbord Book Reviews – #Poetry – Behind Closed Doors: A Collection of Unusual Poems by Robbie Cheadle

Delighted to share my review of the recent poetry collection, Behind Closed Doors  by Robbie Cheadle.

About the collection

What goes on behind closed doors: in the boardroom, after death, in the home, during lockdown, and in nature? This collection of poems, ranging from rhyming verse to twisted nursery rhymes, captures the emotions and thoughts people hide behind the masks they present to the world.

What thoughts are hidden
Behind her immobile face
Quite expressionless
Eyes cold and indifferent
Scrutinising me – hawk like

This book includes some of Robbie Cheadle’s spectacular fondant art and cakes.

My review for the collection 23rd October 2021

A celebration of life and all its highs and lows.

As I get older I turn to poetry more to both read and write. Perhaps age and experience lends relateability to the words of others that describe their journey, sorrows, joys and humour. The ability to express those in short form is always admirable and Robbie Cheadle has done a wonderful job in capturing those moments in a variety of poetic formats.

Finding a life work balance is even tougher when you have children, but throw in Covid, isolation and working from home, it becomes a challenge to maintain a hopeful perspective about life. To counteract the challenges, hope is created in some lovely poems about nature, falling in love, weddings and love of a mother and father…

There is concern too, for the fate of the earth and its creatures with our rampant consumerism, and the unrecognised sacrifice of many behind the scenes who worked to safe businesses at a time of desperation for many.

Humour plays its role in throughout the collection and the Limericks are inspired. I enjoyed all the poems and tough to highlight just a few.. but I would like to mention these.

The Best Gift of All – a Christmas gift of rain for a parched South Africa

Inevitable side-effects of Zoom and working from home – a series of Limericks

He Walks Away – A mother’s bittersweet reactions to letting a son grow up and away.

Overall a highly recommended collection of poetry that will touch hearts and remind all that life is anything but predictable.

Head over to buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of books for adults and children by Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

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

About Robbie Cheadle

Robbie Cheadle is a children’s author and poet. She also writes books for adults under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

The 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 has also published books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.

Robbie writes a monthly series for Writing to be Read called Growing Bookworms. This series discusses different topics relating to the benefits of reading to children.

Robbie has a blog, Robbie’s Inspiration where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will head over to buy Robbie’s latest poetry collection.. thanks Sally.