Italian Food
Shel Silverstein
Oh, how I love Italian food.
I eat it all the time,
Not just ‘cause how good it tastes
But ‘cause how good it rhymes.
Minestrone, cannelloni,
Macaroni, rigatoni,
Spaghettini, scallopini,
Escarole, braciole,
Insalata, cremolata, manicotti,
Marinara, carbonara,
Shrimp francese, Bolognese,
Ravioli, mostaccioli,
Mozzarella, tagliatelle,
Fried zucchini, rollatini,
Fettuccine, green linguine,
Tortellini, Tetrazzini,
Oops—I think I split my jeani.
I eat it all the time,
Not just ‘cause how good it tastes
But ‘cause how good it rhymes.
Minestrone, cannelloni,
Macaroni, rigatoni,
Spaghettini, scallopini,
Escarole, braciole,
Insalata, cremolata, manicotti,
Marinara, carbonara,
Shrimp francese, Bolognese,
Ravioli, mostaccioli,
Mozzarella, tagliatelle,
Fried zucchini, rollatini,
Fettuccine, green linguine,
Tortellini, Tetrazzini,
Oops—I think I split my jeani.
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I have always LOVED Shel Silverstein. His poems are so simple, yet can be so profound. This particular poem is from a collection called "Everything On It", which is named after one of the poems describing a fully loaded hotdog.
This poem in particular caught my eye because it is so simple, and sounds really pretty when you say it aloud, but it's just a bunch of food. I love it. Poems in general have a reputation of being written while in love, and I think writing poems about food makes a lot of sense. It makes a huge comment on romanticizing food and elevating it to a position of power in someone's life, and also giving it enough power to do some significant damage. He writes it as a fun poem, but really is commenting on the depth of our relationships with food.
This poem in particular caught my eye because it is so simple, and sounds really pretty when you say it aloud, but it's just a bunch of food. I love it. Poems in general have a reputation of being written while in love, and I think writing poems about food makes a lot of sense. It makes a huge comment on romanticizing food and elevating it to a position of power in someone's life, and also giving it enough power to do some significant damage. He writes it as a fun poem, but really is commenting on the depth of our relationships with food.