I just realized this is National Poetry Month.
Favorite poets, anyone? My favorite is Mary Oliver. She captures the essence of nature and life so beautifully, so simply. I could stick one of her poems here (like anything from Why I Wake Early for example), but decided instead to share one of my own poems.
A couple of years ago I took a poetry course and had to write poems in the rule-driven structure of a particular form: ghazal, aubade, sestina. (Yeah, look them up. I didn’t know what they were, either. I majored in psych.) It was fun in a puzzle sort of way, but I certainly did not produce any literary gems.
I thought I would share the sonnet I wrote back then in honor of the fabulous Orange Oat scones I made this morning (thank you Dayner for your excellent blog recommendation of 101 Cookbooks). I used soy margarine instead of the half pound of butter (!) in the original recipe, almond milk instead of buttermilk and dried cranberries and apricots instead of currants. The 10 minutes and minor chunks of skin it took to zest an entire orange were worth it — added enough flavor that the butter was barely missed at all.
So here’s my sonnet:
Sonnet for a Carbohydrate
(with apologies to Edna St. Vincent Millay)
Loaves of bread arranged in rows
From country white to whole grain wheat.
The scent of baking fills one’s nose;
the air hangs heavy with wood hearth heat.
Baskets filled with muffins, bars,
and in the Vulcan, brownies bake.
Shimmering jellies shine in jars
near racks of tortes and chocolate cake.
Congo squares, Boston cream pie;
Oatmeal raisin, snicker-doodles.
For me to shrug would be a lie:
I love them all, I love them oodles.
Mon dieu! Oy vay! – Lord, I do fear
Thou’st made the carbs too beautiful this year.
I’d like to take the time to tell you how great your poem is, but I’m too hungry, so am off to the nearest bakery for a morning snack
Ha! I recommend the Orange Oat scones. (Plus, they are E-Z to make!)
“Thou’st made the carbs too beautiful this year.” That cracked me up. Cute poem.
I hope Edna didn’t mind too much! And thanks..
LOL – I loved the last line. I giggled and smiled until my face hurt. Of course, I’m right behind PW on the way to the bakery. It all looks so yummy.
National Poetry Month, oh boy. I must resist the temptation to plaster bad poetry all over my blog.
You would have to search for bad poetry because I’m sure you’re incapable of creating any.
Speaking of, who is the poetry book coming along?
Well, I beat you to it in terms of plastering bad poetry on my blog.
[...] cannot do. « In case you were wondering National Poetry Month April 8, 2010 Nancy Drew Too posted a reminder about National Poetry Month. I don’t write poetry but I have some [...]
Yes, I love the last line too! Boy do I wish I had one of those scones right now!
Heh heh. Whip some up tonight!
I love this poem, it’s not bad poetry at all! It’s adorable…and mouth-watering, all at the same time. Love it! BTW, PW & DS, can you grab me Boston creme donut while you’re there?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steven Suchar. Steven Suchar said: April is National Poetry Month « Nancy Drew Too http://bit.ly/9mXllQ [...]