Elisa Shoenberger has been building a library since she was 13. She loves writing about all aspects of books from author interviews, antiquarian books, archives, and everything in between. She also writes regularly for Murder & Mayhem and Library Journal. She's also written articles for Huffington Post, Boston Globe, WIRED, Slate, and many other publications. When she's not writing about reading, she's reading and adventuring to find cool new art. She also plays alto saxophone and occasionally stiltwalks. Find out more on her website or follow her on Twitter @vogontroubadour.
Writers have been thinking and rhapsodizing over the wonders of the culinary world for centuries. Who hasn’t wanted to sing the praises of that perfect peach or your mom’s homemade noodle dish that no place could ever surpass? Here are 15 great poems about food covering odes to particular food items, food and immigration, and food and humor.
Classics
Here are some classic poems about food from eminent authors of old:
“Tonight, grave sir, both my poor house, and I Do equally desire your company; Not that we think us worthy such a guest, But that your worth will dignify our feast With those that come, whose grace may make that seem Something, which else could hope for no esteem…Read more here
Morning and evening Maids heard the goblins cry: “Come buy our orchard fruits, Come buy, come buy: Apples and quinces, Lemons and oranges, Plump unpeck’d cherries… Read more here
Odes to a Single Food
These are poems dedicated to a single category of food. Personally, peaches are my preferred poetic food.
“From blossoms comesthis brown paper bag of peacheswe bought from the boyat the bend in the road where we turned toward signs painted Peaches.Read more here
Late August, given heavy rain and sunFor a full week, the blackberries would ripen.At first, just one, a glossy purple clotAmong others, red, green, hard as a knot.Read more here
I.Although Tía Miriam boasted she discoveredat least half a dozen uses for peanut butter—topping for guava shells in syrup,butter substitute for Cuban toast,hair conditioner and relaxer—Mamá never knew what to makeof the monthly five-pound jarshanded out by the immigration departmentuntil my friend, Jeff, mentioned jelly.Read more here
At five o’clock in the morning,I walked to work and passed the green pondsof Horizon Park where the last bluegill,caught on the low, slight bank,panted hard in the dark mud, crushed glass,sour bottle caps, whiskey,and the iron weight of heat and smog.Read more here
Kids
When talking about food, you have to talk about food in fun and silly ways.
Some singers sing of ladies’ eyes,And some of ladies lips,Refined ones praise their ladylike ways,And course ones hymn their hips.Read more hereI had to include this poem for my dark dark heart.
The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might:He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright —And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night.Read more here
HOW strange is Love: I am not oneWho Cupid’s power belittles,For Cupid ’tis who makes me shunMy customary victuals.Of, Effie, since that painful sceneThat left me broken-hearted,My appetite, erstwhile so keen,Has utterly departed.Read more hereStill hungry? Check out this list of 100 books about food or 5 YA books about food!
