More Poems about Food, Drink, Herbs & Spices 

by Cynthia Gallaher

In Epicurean Ecstasy: More Poems About Food, Drink, Herbs and Spices, Cynthia Gallaher celebrates not only historical and modern pleasures of the kitchen and the table, but also the seasonal evolutions that take place in the cultivated fields and wild terrains, and of those who harvest these foods and bring nourishment to our homes.

Epicurean Ecstasy is the larger sequel to Omnivore Odes, a chapbook of 22 poems which appeared a handful of years ago from Finishing Line Press. Thus, the “More” in Epicurean Ecstasy, with all new and a greater number of poems not found in the first volume.

A Sample Poem from the book:

“Massachusetts Cranberries”

afloat, a party of redheads on a giant waterbed,
squeezed into cozy corners before they freeze
by sleepy workers hip-high in prophylactic waders.

or are they gathered like scarlet colonies
of miniature planet mars vanquished to earth,
set loose from ancient-armored spaceships barrels.

through the processing factory window
brigades of tangy spheres bounce madly
florid against the backdrop of thick snow.

then bagged like pachinko parlor booty,
to soon become Thanksgiving sauce,
tart juice tender to holding tanks,

or strung white, red, white, red,
both self-contained and exploded on thread
in rows with popcorn.

Enjoy a video of Cynthia reading from the book:

Cynthia Gallaher — A Featured Poet on The Poetry Box LIVE (July 2021)

About the Author

Cynthia Gallaher is author of three other full poetry collections: Earth Elegance, Swimmer’s Prayer and Night Ribbons, and three poetry chapbooks: Drenched: Poems About Liquids; Omnivore Odes: Poems About Food, Herbs and Spices; and Private, On Purpose.

She also published the nonfiction memoir and reference Frugal Poets’ Guide to Life: How to Live a Poetic Life, Even If You Aren’t a Poet, which won a National Indie Excellence Award.

Gallaher appears on Chicago Public Library’s list of “Top Ten Requested Chicago Poets,” and was named one of “100 Women Making a Difference” by Today’s Chicago Woman magazine for her writing and ecological work. She has also received numerous grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council.

Committed to the organic and sustainable foods movement, and a proponent of clean drinking water, Gallaher is a former officer on the board of directors of Illinois Consumers for Safe Food (a local affiliate of The Center for Science in the Public Interest) and has also served as a volunteer for Lake Michigan Federation’s (now the Alliance for the Great Lakes) Shorekeepers initiative and the Green Team of the Chicago Park District. She is also a certified yoga instructor and aromatherapist.

Advance Praise for Epicurean Ecstasy

Cynthia Gallaher weaves threads of science with seeds of the sacred.  The result – a walk along a path that informs with delight. Certainly the best herbal poetry since Shakespeare.

— Steven Foster, senior author of National Geographic’s A Desk Reference of Nature’s Medicine and
Peterson’s A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs

Epicurean Ecstasy: More Poems About Food, Drink, Herbs and Spices is extraordinarily enjoyable; it prompted me to reconsider nourishment and what our own spiritual sustainability requires. Intelligent. Satisfying. Just beautiful. I’m awestruck by Gallaher’s dedication in playing a role on insisting on good, healthy food for the community.

— Dee Sweet, Associate Professor Emerita, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay,
and Wisconsin State Poet Laureate Emerita

Book Launch Readings

The post Epicurean Ecstasy appeared first on The Poetry Box.

Poems about Food

Homer, our Poeming Pigeon mascot, has been hunting and pecking to gather the most delicious poetry for a new collection of poems from around the globe – all about food. Allow us to whet your appetite with an opening poem by Oregon Poet Laureate Emerita, Paulann Petersen, followed by a feast of verse that may not only make your mouth water, but your eyes well-up too. Food not only nourishes our body, it can feed our soul. What’s your favorite food? You just might find a poem about it inside this journal of poetry.

Contributing Poets from Around the Globe:

A.J. Huffman • Andrew David Viceroy • Ann Howells • Ann Privateer • Barbara A. Meier • Beth Suter • Boutheina Boughnim Laarif • Carolyn Martin • Cassie Von Alst • Cathy Cain • Christine Easterly • Christine Kouwenhoven • Claudia F. Savage • Connie Post • Dan Raphael • Dawn Orosco • Deborah Meltvedt • Debra McQueen • Elizabeth Moscoso • Elizabeth Vrenios • Georgette Howington • Heather Angier • Helen Kerner • Irene Bloom • Jan Duncan-O’Neal • Jan Haag • Jane Burn • Jane Simpson • Jane Yolen • JC Reilly • Jeanine Stevens • Jeannie E. Roberts • JenniferAnne Morrison • Jill Boyles • Joan Colby • Joan Leotta • Joanne S. Bodin • Judith Skillman • Karla Linn Merrifield • Katy Brown • Kimberly White • Larry Schug • Laurel Feigenbaum • Laurie Kolp • Linda Ferguson • Linda Flaherty Haltmaier • Linda Hofke • Linda Jackson Collins • Lori Levy • Lori Loranger • Lu Pierro • M.J.Iuppa • Mariano Zaro • Mark L. Levinson • Martie Odell-Ingebretsen • Mary Kay Rummel • Matt Hohner • Nathan Tompkins • Paul Belz • Paulann Petersen • Penelope Scambly Schott • Rachelle M. Parker • Richard King Perkins II • Rick Blum • Sarah Ghoshal • Shawn Aveningo • Sreemoyee Roy Chowdhury • Stephen McGuinness • Susan Mahan • Susan Star Paddock • Suzanne Bruce • Sylvia Riojas Vaughn • Tammy Robacker • Taylor Graham • Terri Niccum • Tricia Knoll • Victorio Reyes

The post The Poeming Pigeon: Poems about Food appeared first on The Poetry Box.