Best Al Dente Poems
Opening line from "Highway Five Love Poem" by Ruth L. Schwartz
This is a love poem for all the tomatoes
I squished to make our Date-Night spaghetti.
Our love, like the pasta, was shiny. So the story goes.
We sit at our table, between us a rose
Red as the marinara I chose. (He let me).
This is a love poem for all our tomatoes.
We watch the steam, which the mouth quickly blows
Away (like the wind and those petals the day he met me).
Our love, like the pasta, was sticky. So the story goes.
We sip our red wine. Chianti, it has a good nose.
(In the morning, do you think he will regret me?)
This is a love poem. For all our tomatoes
Are gone, just as the wine hides grapes squished by toes
in authentic California vineyards. (You get me?)
Our love, like the pasta, was steamy. So the story goes.
We finish our meal with gestures the other knows.
(I wonder if he'll someday forget me.)
This isn't a love poem for all our tomatoes.
Our love, like our pasta, was al dente. So our story goes.
Categories:
al dente, food, lost love, sad,
Form:
Villanelle
Along a Jersey creek, somebody
Made a crazy find –
500 pounds of pasta had been
Somehow left behind.
Whoever dumped the noodles
(Mainly elbows and spaghetti)
Isn’t known, but word got out and
There was lots of wordplay ready.
“Pastabilities were endless,”
Was reported and, as well,
“The perpetrators need
The penne-tentiary,” I heard tell.
My favorite was the mastermind
Whose capture is the aim.
Though it might be just an alias,
Al Dente is his name.
Categories:
al dente, word play,
Form:
Rhyme
PASTA: A FORK OF HEAVEN
In a pot of bubbling boiling water,
I drop hard nine inches long bundle of farfelles..
Minutes passed,between my fingertips,
I pressed one strand, al- dente!
In a platter glittering white,
I form a fist of fresh-cooked pasta noodles,
pouring a hot scoop of white
creamy silky sauce made from:
parmesan and pecorino
melted, blended in a saucepan,
flavored more with a savory stock,
tossed of shallots, saffron and lean meat.
The sauce must be rich enough
coating all the threads of farfelles...
Garnishing it with grated cheese,
teaspoonful crunchy diced bacon,
a pinch of chopped flat leaf parsley...
Voila! Who could refuse this tasty fork of heaven?
__________________________________________________
***farfelle - a type of pasta: thick and wide noodles
al -dente - a pasta noodle cooked all the way through except in the center being slightly undone
CONTEST name: DIDACTIC FOOD
~~3rd place~~
1:54pm, September 09, 2015
Categories:
al dente, beautiful, desire, food, imagery,
Form:
Didactic
Eeny meeny capellini,
Ziti, elbows, bucatini.
Vermicelli, farfalloni,
Gnocchi, orzo, rigatoni.
Alfabeto and linguine,
Cavatelli, fettuccine.
Penne, pappardelle and gigli,
Stelle, risi, tripolini.
Picking pasta gives you choices;
Any way, your mouth rejoices.
Think I'll go and boil me some -
If it's cooked al dente - yum!
Categories:
al dente, food,
Form:
Rhyme
You are the stuff my culinary dreams are made of.
Unending shapes and sizes.
From skinny linguini to the rounded orecchiette
and squiggly fusilli.
As my tongue tastes morsels of your saucy tubular goodness,
I compose a rhyme of the ancient marinara to atone
for my over-the-top pasta love.
Stuffed, plain, buttered. Swimming in Sunday sauce.
The tastiest were those plain whites I pilfered from the pot
before nonna caught me. Whack! with the wooden spoon.
It’s rumored my very first uttering was mangia – an oft-heard word
spoken by mama as she attempted to feed me.
“You’re going to turn into a rigatoni
if you don’t eat something else,” she implored.
Ha! If I were a rigatoni, we’d be cugini.
I only liked you, beautiful al dente you.
And semolina only, please. I accept no impastas!
You’ve been with me through thick and thin,
mostly thick ... around my hips.
Late night comfort snack,
midday bowl of depression-busting goodness.
The breakfast of strong Italian women!
You are Sophia Loren’s guilty pleasure.
Mine, too. With the emphasis on pleasure.
One bite and I am transported back to childhood.
Visions of homemade pasta drying on pristine
white flour sack towels tantalize my taste buds.
You, dear pasta, are la bomba.
My love for you is unending, until we all farfalle down.
Categories:
al dente, food, funny, parody, passion,
Form:
Free verse
Midday sometimes in class instead of learning algebra
While she should be calculating and figuring a formula
Her mind wanders aboard a moonlit gondola
Serenaded by a musician and his viola
She follows the enticing aroma of hot lasagna
Zigs instead of zags, could be seen as a faux-pas
She glides around a peninsula soon in terra incognita
Traversing a nebula not a care in the world, she’s in Utopia
Atop her head a diamond studded tiara
Below a ball gown of the finest taffeta
As she gracefully waves and cheers at the orchestra
Who is playing al dente a capella for an al fresco opera
Such fleeting moments garnered as bouquets of ephemera
She weaves in and out of daydream during algebra
AP: 1st place 2021, Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on June 8, 2018 for JUNE 2018 STANDARD CONTEST sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 2ND
Originally posted on March 4, 2018
Categories:
al dente, class, dream, fantasy, math,
Form:
Monorhyme
Booze and madness.
I'm feeling it. Again,
nobody believes me but the nonsense, it just makes sense.
It's all about the soul deep down inside
That's me.
I'm in my head and I don't think I'll ever get out.
And then suddenly he knew
it was true,
sometimes.
He did drink alone and he is mentioned in the Abnormal Psychology textbook
under psycho-derelict and possibly addicted to self-pity
pretending not to be. Poor me.
And one more thing, I would always rather be alone with the unknown
where nothing really matters when you get right down to the bottom of it.
And for some people I know the only way to keep sane is to agree with you and always eat spaghetti al dente.
Categories:
al dente, places,
Form:
Free verse
I rarely follow any traditional rules
when it comes to culinary delights;
everyone should try my tasty lasagna,
which I surely learned from Mamma.
I cook the noodles for five minutes, 'till they are al dente, which means crunchy,
then I spread Barilla sauce in the baking pan generously,
lay the first set of noodles topped with blended ground beef and ricotta cheese;
then another layer of noodles and sauce and so on...
until I reach the last one, which I abundantly top
with fresh slices of mozzarella,
and let it bake for an hour on 300 degrees...
now who wants to taste my lasagna?
Categories:
al dente, food, passion
Form:
Rhyme
Bridal Party- what horses have when they get new saddles
al dente' vegetables- vegetables hard enough to dent your teeth
Oregano- the Italian section of a northwestern state
John Doe- a hooved animal that frequents prostitute deer
Civil Defense- fighting off an aggressor politely
Plaster of Paris- an extremely strong French cognac
Macaroni and Sneeze- a person allergic to pasta
Mushrooms- rooms for people to sit in and feel sorry for themselves
Shock and Awe- someone who says "Awe, shucks!" when they watch you stick
your finger in an electric socket
Love Seat- a person's fondness for sitting down.
"Quality Time"- an expensive Rolex
"Strip Mall"- a shopping mall for nudists
Console Organ- trying to make your sorrowful electric organ feel better
Poison Ivy- giving strychnine to your hen-pecking wife Ivy
"Justifiable Homicide"- killing "Billy Mays" of TV commercial infamy
"Shipping and Handling"- mysterious outrageous charges for "free" stuff
"Foster Child"- an adolescent drinking Australian Foster Lager beer
"Law Practice"- Why are they still practicing? When will they get to know it?
"Trick or Treat"- whether you are the "Hooker" or the "John"
Remember- sometimes I add more to these, so check back every once in awhile.
Anyone is welcome to add their's....we are "family", after all. tom
Categories:
al dente, funny, on writing and
Form:
Burlesque
Checking the lights on the dashboard when they flash and stay red:
it's the oil that needs to be changed or the engine that requires
maintenance, and in frigid temperatures who would venture outside and get frostbites?
A car is a necessity, a commodity and besides daily pleasure, it may cost a lot indeed.
Running to the grocery store through the backdoor when milk is low,
and guests wait for a fresh coffee pot and you put on a face not so mellow,
and much worse when you forget the roast in the oven...the bird you admire,
and smoke fills your kitchen...you just dial 911 and scream, " My house in on fire! "
But the worst one that can send you into havoc...
when the mean kid down the block throws a rock
and your window shatters and the cat flees with the swiftest animal beat,
but the dog gets vicious and runs after him by exposing his sharp teeth.
Ever forgot to send your mom a Christmas or Easter card?
She'll call you the same day knowing that the Post office won't deliver,
and what her voice will sound like? Soft or harsh, or angry as a bard?
I can imagine the words she will say, " Have you forgotten something, dear? "
These are just few of them that can drive you crazy like wild kids who love to fight
and make you head spin and ache until you sit down and take a break by a lamplight,
" Ouch!" You got burned from the splashing water while draining your steamy pasta...
you complain,"It's overcooked and not al dente!" And like mother you exclaim,"Basta!"
* The word "Basta" in Italian means " It's enough "
Categories:
al dente, food, funny, mother, urban,
Form:
Rhyme
Sleepless ... tossed like pillows, our sleep number slumber
so sweetly disturbed ... pretzel limbs, twisted soft and warm ...
we tear torrid tunnels through Egyptian cotton ...
Swimming, deep, the louvered moonbeams, properly peeled
and cologned-to-taste ... hot-striped like a naughty tiger,
(from your almond nails) ...
A fire on my skin inflames to the core, mouth-to-flesh-to-mouth ...
manic handfuls, served al dente' ... your tangy, sticky-sweet nectar,
we share like an aged and smoky bourbon ...
Mixed in our kiss with your herbal tresses, imbibed as a potion,
sublime ... we flail our forms, frantic - thoughts, flavors, feelings,
urges, curves, wants ...
Swirled in a moonlit concoction, aflame ... tumbling and surging
together, a single sultry beast, with but one selfish design ...
abandon.
~ 3rd Place ~ in the "Sleepless - Old Or New" Poetry Contest, Carolyn Devonshire, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Contest 455 any form Or None" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.
~ 8th Place ~ in the "Abandon 2" Poetry Contest, Brenda Chiri, Sponsor & Judge.
Categories:
al dente, love, metaphor, moon, passion,
Form:
Free verse
I like my poetry soup cooked al dente,
so lots of diced adjectives in the pot went,
and I threw in some fresh verse,
lyric, I did immerse.
I folded in liquid imagination,
and sprinkled poetic inspiration,
nothing wrong with a pinch of creation;
and a toss of wordy rhyme gambling.
and a swirl of flowers scrambling.
I sifted in beauty,
I steeped words gloomy,
it was a mix of eloquence quite soupy.
Oh, I like my poetry soup hot and al dente!
_________________________________
January 25, 2017
Poetry/Verse/I like my soup al dente
Copyright Protected, ID 17-8688-02-0
All Rights Reserved. Written Under Pseudonym.
Written for the contest, Poetry Soup Recipe
sponsor, Cindi Rockwell
Eighth Place
Categories:
al dente, beautiful, poetry, writing,
Form:
Verse
Wooing, My LOVE
Chateau-Briand, with homemade sauce Bernaise
Pancake cottage fries, al dente cauliflower Polonaise
1971 bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse on ice, already Chilled
The Love of my Life, Barbara; with Love my Heart: Filled
The Centre piece is Roses : White, Yellow, Red, and Blue
Pure Love, Unforgettable Love, LOVE, FOREVER YOU
Mandarin Orange Cheese Crepes, Golden Brown, as YOUR EYES
For YOU My MOST ONLY LOVE : “Barbara Jean” My GIFT: My PRIZE
_________________________________________________________________
The Taste of LOVE
Shadows Caress in the Flickering Candle Light
Fingertips dance on the silky softness of her skin
The flame in Her Forest Brown eyes shines bright
Her hands fondle the baton, let Love’s Symphony begin
Lips meld in passion, tongues tingle the Carnal senses tonight
Moist Mouths explore Love’s Exquisite Existence
Tasting the many Flavors , filtering through my nose tonight
“Now my Most Precious LOVE, I make LOVE with : YOUR Assistance ______________
“ ENTWINED “
When I enter Euphoria , and We become “ONE”
I will follow the Path Of LOVE in YOUR EYES
The heat of LOVE is Burning in her Eyes and Lights the Way
The warmth in my loin Expanded and Swelled LOVE, Grew
The Passion is mounting, such warmth, such LOVE
As I begin To Erupt YOU press me to Succulent Teat
I kiss the hardness of YOUR nipple as Life’s river Flows
I muffle the Screams of Ecstasy “AAAAhhhhhhgg! AAAAhhhhhhgg! “
Inspired by the Contest “ SOFT SENSUALITY “
Sponsored By “ nette onclaud “ - Written by HGarvey Daniel Esquire
Dedicated To Barbara Jean Gorelick ( My HEARTBEAT )
Categories:
al dente, fantasy, love, passion, love,
Form:
Rhyme
He rides his horse into town with dramatic cowboy flair
where suddenly a certain amount of tension fills the air
wide rimmed cowboy hat pulled down low
with guns strapped to his sides ready to go
All the townsfolk stare at the lanky handsome stranger
wondering if their life and town is once again in danger
the mysterious stranger ties his horse up to a post
and strut's into the saloon with all eyes on him of course
Then out of nowhere there is background music of whistling
with the strangers posture now of one bristling
sitting stiffly down at a corner table a very nervous waiter stops by
with the stranger squinting and staring at him with curious eyes
Saying "I'm mighty hungry from my trip
and think you all should relax and get a grip
as I'm just here passing on through
so this is what I want your saloon cook to do"
"Go tell him to make me a heaping plate of spaghetti
with nice thick tomato sauce and the noodles al dente
cause I want to wolf down a steaming hot meal to fill my belly
so's I have the energy to say whoa Nelly"
And with that the waiter left and came back in a few
with a heaping plate of spaghetti with thick sauce the man could chew
but as soon as he chewed and swallowed the very first bite
he spit it out and got into an awful spaghetti fight
Throwing it at the waiter who ducked just in time
with nearby cowboys getting hit in the face from the firing pasta line
suddenly the whole room drew their guns on him
saying "lookey here, you better calm on down... slim"
With that the stranger sighed and grabbed his hat
replying "this tastes awful and wouldn't feed it to a rat"
slowly backing out of the saloon he mounted his faithful horse
riding past the saloon with all eye's on him of course
With his belly growling and his horse Nelly neighing
the townsfolk were very happy the stranger wasn't staying
saying "I don't know who that was and why he caused so much tension,
and what kind of cowboy has a hankering for spaghetti in a western?"
6-14-18
Categories:
al dente, angst, food, , western,
Form:
Rhyme
NOUVELLE CUISINE
Nouvelle cuisine the waiter said, as he served the food to me
Where’s the rest I asked him, as I’d earlier skipped my tea
Tiny bits of something on a massive bloody dish
I tried to woo my girlfriend by pretending I was swish
You can pick the restaurant, was my very first mistake
I thought she’d pick our local for some scampi or a steak
Instead she chose Pierre’s, which was going to be steep
I’d heard the food was lovely though the prices made you weep
I gazed upon the menu, which was written out in French
And scanned along the prices, which made my buttocks clench
To refrain from looking stupid, I ordered some red wine
We requisitioned dinner and prepared ourselves to dine
A puny bowl of soup arrived, we felt a touch irate
We had to eat it quickly or it could evaporate
The main course had potato which was hidden by some meat
Five al-dente vegetables, all stacked up nice and neat
A de-constructed rhubarb tart, that’s what they served us next
Though why they took it all apart has left us kinda vexed
We left a tip and paid the bill…a pretty hefty fee
Then dandered into town and we got a KFC
Categories:
al dente, food, funny, humor,
Form:
Rhyme