2012 Alphabet Soup Poetry Potluck Menu and Giveaway

#1 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2012.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver (“The Summer Day,” House of Light, 1990).

 

So glad you’re here!

The table is set, the soup’s simmering gently on the stove, and our guest poets are arriving!

Beginning Monday, April 2nd, each of them will take turns sharing a poem or two and one of their favorite recipes. They’ll be coming from places like California, Colorado, New Jersey, Indiana, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Massachusetts, and Texas. I love a good potluck — it’s always so much fun to see what everybody brings and sample what they’ve made. There’s nothing like tasty food and good poetry to bring like-minded people together in celebration of truth, beauty and creativity. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this year’s Menu, which features a variety of verse forms and subjects pensive and playful, intimate and worldly.

*adjusts bib and licks chops*

Here are this year’s guest poets (in no particular order):

*2012 Alphabet Soup Poetry Potluck Menu*

Charles Waters
Linda Ashman
Janet Wong
April Pulley Sayre
Robyn Hood Black
Kathi Appelt
Leslie Muir
Martha Calderaro
Mary Quattlebaum
Jill Corcoran
Linda Baie
Gail Gerwin
Helen Frost
Kay Pluta
Margarita Engle
Lesa Taylor Medley
Lee Wardlaw
Doraine Bennett
Heidi Bee Roemer
Adele Kenny
Sondra Gash

Aren’t they beautiful? It’s such an honor to have them in the Alphabet Soup kitchen to help us celebrate National Poetry Month! ☺

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celebrating spring!

Munch on mango!

Happy Spring!

Though the calendar says March 20th is officially the first day of Spring, this season of fresh starts and renewal seems to have rushed in ahead of schedule.

In downtown D.C., the cherry blossoms have already popped. Our daffodils came up a month ago, last week we had temps in the 80’s, and the robins are already packing for their summer vacations. Winter was strange; our lawn stayed green the entire time, and not once did we have to clear our driveway of snow. We live in such a fast-paced world — now, even nature seems to be in a hurry. ☺

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special thanks to all the 2010 poetry potluck poets!

        
       "Tea and Toast" cupcake by abbietabbie.

It’s time to raise our cupcakes and offer a special TOAST to all 21 wonderfully talented, brilliant, wild and wooly poets who participated in the first alphabet soup Poetry Potluck!
 
You brought us family stories, observations of the natural world, so much fun, wit and whimsy, color, spice, sweetness, snow, snark and soup! You took us to Mexico, Brazil, France, and Mansfield, Missouri. We listened, learned from, and loved what you so generously shared. We noshed, sipped, slurped, licked and crunched. We even tasted gingerbread with chocolate frosting dropped from an airplane! As we wipe the last delicious crumbs from our faces, I salute you and bow to you. Thank you, poets, for the beauty and understanding you bring to the world with your lovingly chosen words!

THE COMPLETE 2010 POETRY POTLUCK MENU

* Wine and appetizers: "The Poets in My Life Meet on the Third Sunday," "A Gourmand’s Prayer"

1. Elaine Magliaro: "Chick Chatter," Almond Gateaux

2. Karen Edmisten: "Sustenance," Atticus’ French Bread

3. Laura Shovan: "An Absolute Vista," Blizzard Soup

4. J. Patrick Lewis: "Hillary Hollery Q. McQatt Introduces the Crew," Sticky-Goo Buns

5. Julie Larios: "Domingo," Tortas Mexicanas

6. Kelly Polark: "The TV Speaks," Bowtie Pasta Salad

7. Sara Lewis Holmes: "Biscuits," Ann’s Angel Biscuits

8. Kristy Dempsey: "Outside Dog at Dinnertime," Brazilian Brigadeiro

9. Charles and Debra Ghigna: "Sleepover," "Slumber Party Surprise," Ghost Bite Cookies

10. Susan Rich: "Chanterelle," Chanterelle and Goat Cheese Pastry Puffs

11. Mary Lee Hahn: "Apple Crisp," Apple Crisp

12. Liz Garton Scanlon: "Sweet," Barley Stuffed Squash

13. Jeannine Atkins: "Not Today," Hermit Cookies

14. Greg Pincus: "Foods That Scare," Grandma’s Chicken Paprikash

15. Douglas Florian: "French Toast," Not-so-French Toast

16. Laura Purdie Salas: "Yum!", Brickle

17. Kelly Fineman: "His Chair," Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

18. Tanita S. Davis: "An Ode to the Lime," Easy Tofu Lime Cheesecake

19. Andromeda Jazmon: "Figs," Homemade Fig Bars

20. Tricia Stohr-Hunt: "A Generous Baker," Raspberry Crescents

21. Joyce Sidman: "Maybe," Blender Mousse

HERE’S TO ALL OF YOU! Toast toast toast toast toast!

 "Miss Toasty Cookies" by mitsel18.

♥ For future reference, a permanent link to this post can be found in this blog’s sidebar under "Bookish Recipes." 

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved. 

april 2010 poetry month potluck: starters and a giveaway

#1 in the Poetry Potluck Series, celebrating National Poetry Month 2010.

 This is just to say,


photo by Morgan Rowe.               

Happy April and Welcome to the Alphabet Soup Poetry Potluck!

I’ve set the table, chilled the wine, hired a string quartet (don’t worry, some jazz musicians will be joining us later), and am ready to enjoy a month’s worth of poems written by some of the wonderful folks I’ve met through Poetry Friday.

I’ve been hooked on PF ever since I first started blogging in 2007. Every week, I look forward to seeing what beautiful, inspiring, funny, or thought provoking poems these friends will post. Whether they’ve written the poems themselves, or have chosen the work of others, I’m grateful for the momentary glimpse into their emotional lives.

I thought inviting them to the alphabet soup kitchen for a potluck would be the perfect way to celebrate National Poetry Month. I asked each to share an original poem and a favorite recipe, and they all, without hesitation, enthusiastically agreed (further evidence of their overall awesomeness). They came through for me in a big way, even sharing recipe photos. Friends, this is going to be a supremely delicious month — a bountiful, nourishing feast for body, mind, and spirit!

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