16 Replies to “The “If William Carlos Williams were a famous chef” poem”

1. CraigC says:

   March 23, 2005 at 6:30 pm

   my shaker of
   
   paprika

   is silently begging
   
   to be used

2. Lyndsey says:

   March 23, 2005 at 6:47 pm

   i didn’t see the label
   
   now I’ve
   
   ruined my eggs.

3. Scott P says:

   March 23, 2005 at 7:22 pm

   I then said:

   Dare you make I fill this

   Your propaganda With iodized salt?

   And he the salt shaker answered:

   Am I not I–here kosher?

4. Carin says:

   March 23, 2005 at 7:36 pm

   Not to be OT (but I suck at poems, just ask my college creative writing prof) – BUT, when does the pre-party begin for this talk-show-thingy? It’s tomorrow …

5. Alpha Baboon says:

   March 23, 2005 at 7:40 pm

   Transitional Indian Food

   First he said:
   
   It is the woman in us
   
   That make us cook–
   
   Let us acknowledge it–
   
   Men would go hungry
   
   or dine on fast food
   
   Therefore we can speak
   
   and be conscious
   
   of the curry powder
   
   unbent by its sensual
   
   musk and proximity to
   
   the white pepper

   I then said:
   
   Dare you make this
   
   Spicey Indian Curry ?

   And he answered:
   
   Am I not already
   
   Heating the Pan ?

6. Daniel says:

   March 23, 2005 at 9:13 pm

   i really hated the original version of that poem.  i think we’d all be better off if WCW was a chef rather than a poet.

7. gail says:

   March 23, 2005 at 10:26 pm

   I hate chickens. Except when they’re cooked.

8. gail says:

   March 23, 2005 at 10:27 pm

   But I have nothing against red wagons.

9. CraigC says:

   March 23, 2005 at 10:35 pm

   Oh, yeah?  Well, if you’re not careful, I’m gonna fix yours.

10. Beck says:

    March 23, 2005 at 10:39 pm

    I used to have a lot of contempt for Red Wheelbarrow.  It seemed like a bad joke.

    Then one day I realized that in 15 words, WCW had said volumes about slavery, race relations, to say nothing of implied subjects such as North-South relations, white guilt, the Protestant work ethic, agrarian economics, socialism… You can really read as much into it as you want–it’s brevity in a sense being what lends it such breadth of scope.

    Not bad for fifteen words.

    Of course, if you keep all that in mind, you’ll realize that Jeff kept his parody in the exact same spirit.  “Beside the white pepper” for instance being a direct parallel to the fat, lazy chickens.

    However, you’d have to say this is perhaps a 21st century adaptation, or even a conservative reaction (WCW being a bit of a lefty like most of those beat cats).  “First in the spice rack” could suggest that the salt does all the work, but it could also suggest that it’s at the forefront of the chef’s consciousness.  Is the salt then a sacred cow, or again a shackled workhorse upon which all cooking depends?  Dare we criticize the salt for its plainness, its ubiquity? 

    Were he to A) read it, and B) have any depth of understanding whatsoever, I’ve no doubt that Oliver Willis would have but one response to this post, a response as obvious as it would be–for him–necessary:  RACIST!

11. Ana says:

    March 23, 2005 at 11:16 pm

    Fucking poetry.

12. gail says:

    March 24, 2005 at 12:32 am

    Beck, are you another recovering English major? You’ve got to just step away from the critical theory and try to make a life for yourself, man. One day at a time.

13. Ana says:

    March 24, 2005 at 1:26 am

    He’s not telling.

    Bbeck. We’re only as sick as our secrets.

14. Big Bang Hunter says:

    March 24, 2005 at 8:11 am

    – I don’t have any good fucking poetry penned Ana… Would a parrasal do…. (properly covered of course)

15. Beck says:

    March 24, 2005 at 12:39 pm

    International economics.  Didn’t take a single hour of English (or lit or anything of the sort) in college.

    I’m just funny in the head is all.

16. gail says:

    March 24, 2005 at 3:20 pm

    Beck,It’s ok if you’re just doing English socially. People who actually major in it are serious users and require intervention. (Believe me, I know. I’m working on my PhD in English and I’m 54 years old!)

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