Poet Lisa Hammond
One of Ed Madden's goals these past eight years as the city's poet laureate has been to put poetry in public places. As his term nears an end, drop by Pawley's Front Porch to celebrate one of his last projects, Poetry On the Menu. The winning poem, "Eating Out" by Columbia poet Lisa Hammond, appears on the Pawley's menu, and she will be reading it (and maybe a couple of other food-related poems!) November 2nd. Pawley's Front Porch is located at 827 Harden Street in the Five Points district. Pawley's is the first restaurant in the city to participate in this project, and we hope that the next poet laureate will get others to join in! Small celebratory gathering starting at 6:30, on the porch if the weather is good. Stop by, have dinner or a drink, and join us in celebrating poetry as a public art! More details on the Facebook Event page.
Eating Out
by Lisa Hammond
I can make it at home, my mother says. Biscuits,
yes, mac and cheese. She shells butterbeans,
and there is joy in that—but also in the restaurant,
linen covered table or not, the dishes you don't wash,
the first time you taste chimichurri or grilled Mahi-Mahi,
fried green tomatoes with homemade Boursin cheese.
Good red wine and small plates, prosciutto and arugula pizza—
even just tossing peanut shells on a bar floor—doors wide
open, aproned wait staff smiling, welcome in, welcome in.