Poetry in the Kitchen

April is National Poetry Month, a month set aside to celebrate the important role that poetry plays in our lives. Poetry helps us pause, reflect and go deeper into awareness of ourselves and the human condition. Poetry can be a creative expression of sentiments similar to how art, music, or great food can. Words in poetry are not only chosen for their meanings but are selected to create a tempo, also known as a meter. The meter is what gives the poem its succession of time and its melody. 

Ancient History

Poetry has been around for thousands of years serving as a narrative of history and preserving cultures and sentiments for future generations. There are numerous types of poetry including blank verse, rhymed poetry, free verse, epic, and narrative. Blank verse is also known as iambic pentameter and is the type of poetry that does not contain rhyming verses. Rhymed poetry is the repetition of syllables while free verse may rhyme, but not consistently. Epic poetry is more of a long form of prose while narrative poetry tells a story using rhyme, rhythm, similes, and metaphors. 

Communicating Emotion

Poetry and food are interconnected in the way that they both trigger emotional responses. Food aromas, sounds (think ASMR, autonomous sensory meridian response), and visuals affect the human condition the same as words or notes do in an elegantly written poem or an expressive musical song. There is a genre of poetry dominated by food aptly called “food poetry” which contains thoughts about food and even recipes contained in the verses. Interested in food poetry? You can find poems about food here. 

Cooked and Raw Poetry

There is a period in the history of poetry, post-1945, where writings shifted into categories called “academic” and “anti-academic” writing which introduced the “cooked poetry” and “raw poetry” movements. Cooked poetry was very structured in nature and followed a formality whereas raw poetry represented more of an honest tone expressive of human vulnerabilities. Learn more about raw and cooked poetry here. 

Harmonic Balance

Poetry is very similar to the way we work in the kitchen, with a harmonic balance to the timing of food preparations along with the grace and elegance required of navigating our small yet organized kitchen. There is poetry in adding just the right amount of spice to a delicately balanced dish, or gently stirring the beginnings of a roux, to the exceptional execution of a meal where all items are completed in perfect timing to plate up and serve. So the next time you enjoy a meal from Bex Kitchen remember that all things are poetic. We communicate joyful emotion and satisfaction in our unique way by artfully serving expertly crafted whole food. Call 908-975-3334  or email us at inquiries@bexkitchen.com to add some catering poetry to your next event. 

Hungry to dive deeper into poetry? Check out “Favorite Poem Project” here. Or sign-up to receive a poem-a-day to your inbox from poets.org by clicking here.