Doughetry (Poetry about Baking)

Today, at least for Bozeman, it is raining. Like really hard. It got us, well at least this writer, a little inspired to post about things you can do when it’s raining outside. Spring cleaning, listen to music really loud, read, bake or write. Well we bake so much (as one would expect) so I was thinking something else and I chose reading. The readings of baking poetry and quotations to help pass the day, so without further ado:

– Baking by Susan Rich

“Each night he stands before

the kitchen island, begins again

from scratch: chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg,

he beats, he folds;

keeps faith in what happens

when you combine known quantities,

bake twelve minutes at a certain heat.

The other rabbis, the scholars,

teenagers idling by the beach,

they receive his offerings,

in the early hours, share his grief.

It’s enough now, they say.

Each day more baked goods to friends,

and friends of friends, even

the neighborhood cops. He can’t stop,

holds on to the rhythmic opening

and closing of the oven,

the timer’s expectant ring.

I was just baking, he says if

someone comes by. Again and again,

evenings winter into spring,

he creates the most fragile

of confections: madelines

and pinwheels, pomegranate crisps

and blue florentines;

each crumb to reincarnate

a woman – a savoring

of what the living once could bring.”

– The Morning Baking by Carolyn Forche
Grandma, come back, I forgot
How much lard for these rolls 

Think you can put yourself in the ground
Like plain potatoes and grow in Ohio?
I am damn sick of getting fat like you 

Think you can lie through your Slovak?
Tell filthy stories about the blood sausage?
Pish-pish nights at the virgin in Detroit? 

I blame your raising me up for my Slav tongue
You beat me up out back, taught me to dance 

I’ll tell you I don’t remember any kind of bread
Your wavy loaves of flesh
Stink through my sleep
The stars on your silk robes 

But I’m glad I’ll look when I’m old
Like a gypsy dusha hauling milk 

Quotes – 
Vegetables are a must on a diet.  I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.
– Jim Davis
You can say this for ready-mixes – the next generation isn’t going to have any trouble making pies exactly like mother used to make. 
– Earl Wilson
For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake.
– Alfred Hitchcock
When you look at a cupcake, you’ve got a smile. 
– Anne Byrn

Well that is the end of our compilation – but please do follow us on Twitter so that you can get more quotes and poetry like this throughout your day.

1 thought on “Doughetry (Poetry about Baking)

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