Poetry on the Menu: Celebrating National Poetry Month with Food-Inspired Verse
April is National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate the power and beauty of words. And what better way to do that than with food-inspired poetry?
Menupoems: A Culinary Delight
In New York City and other cities across the country, the literary food journal Alimentum is distributing “menupoems” to participating restaurants. These broadsides of food-related poems are designed to look like menus, offering a unique and delicious way to enjoy poetry.
Last year’s menu included a translation of Pablo Neruda’s “From The Great Tablecloth,” a poem by Doug Magee called “Praline To A Kiss,” and several by the “menupoem inventor,” Esther Cohen, including “Posthumous Hummus” and “He Only Wants.”
Classic Food Poems
In addition to the menupoems, there are many other classic poems that celebrate food. One of the most famous is William Carlos Williams’s “This is just to say,” which begins with the simple yet evocative lines:
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
Another classic food poem is Robert Burns’s “Address to a Haggis.” This poem raises Scotland’s humble national dish to heroic status, a proud symbol of Scottish identity. Burns writes:
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race! Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace As lang’s my arm
Food Poems by Contemporary Poets
Contemporary poets are also writing food-inspired poetry. Kim O’Donnel at A Mighty Appetite has published several tasty food poems on her blog, including two by the late Jane Kenyon, former New Hampshire poet laureate.
Food and Inspiration
Food can be a powerful source of inspiration for poets. It can evoke memories, emotions, and a sense of place. Whether it’s the simple pleasure of eating a ripe peach or the more complex emotions surrounding a family meal, food can inspire us to write poems that are both personal and universal.
Share Your Food Poems
Do you have a favorite food poem? Or has food ever moved you to pen verse? Share your thoughts in the comments below.