Audio By Carbonatix
Launched in 2011, The O, Miami Poetry Festival set out to bridge the gap between contemporary poetry and the Greater Miami audience. “Contemporary poetry is so diverse, fascinating and dynamic” said P. Scott Cunningham, founder and director of The University of Wynwood which produces the biannual poetry festival. “I’m deeply interested in promoting poetry as an artistic practice for everyone with no barriers to participation.”
The festival is made up of several online and offline events around town, the combination of which has helped the festival reach a broader audience. “To do something these days without an online presence would be tantamount to a political statement,” said Cunningham. “It would be a missed opportunity as our mission is to reach everyone in Miami-Dade County.”
This year’s mix includes a much buzzed about #thatssomiami poetry contest which takes place on tumblr top entries are broadcasted on WLRN- Miami Herald News. Since we’re all about food here at Short Order we sifted through the entries to bring you the top food poems entered into the contest. We saw a lot of versus about Miami’s ubiquitous coladas, pastellitos and tostadas but some of our favorites involved lobsters, mansions and topless bars
because really, #thatssomiami.
If you want to lay your lyrics down, there’s still time to enter the contest which closes at
the end of April. Entering is easy and if you need some poetic foodie inspiration to get you started,check out the latest spots to make our Best of Miami list, it’s so Miami!
Abuela tells me
I’m too fat, hands
me a pastelito de guayaba.
That’s so Miami
(Caridad McCormick)
Buy mansions
lobsters lovers, roadside.
That’s so Miami.
(Annhy Shim)
24 dollars for champagne
in a plastic glass that’s flutey.
Sipping with Art Basel Looky-Lous
and enjoying feeling snooty.
That’s SO Miami.
(Anonymous)
Every morning
I buy a colada and wonder
“what will I do with all these cups?”
That’s so Miami.
(Vilma Davila)
Jewish delis we go to eat,
hideous turtles on the street, bright colors,
lots of heat, that’s so Miami.
(Kareem Tabsch)
Café con leche to watch the sunrise,
Cafecito to watch the afternoon monsoon.
Cortadito to dance under the moon.
That’s so Miami.
(wordsfailmeintwolanguages)
COLONOSCOPY CLINIC FULL OF PEOPLE
Colonoscopy clinic full of people,
fasting for 24 hours, waiting for their appt.,
and a woman comes in selling empanadas!
That’s so Miami!
(Michelle Garcia)
WHEN YOU WATCH MEN IN FISH COSTUMES RUN A FOOT RACE
When you watch men in fish costumes run a foot race,
As you down a Cuban sandwich from a grill,
Before you take in a topless dancer at a bar,
And you’ve never left the ballpark,
That’s so Miami.
(Jay Silver, Weston, FL)
An eye-opening “cafecito” first thing in the morning,
A delicious tuna wrap and a diet soda for lunch,
For dinner? Oh, so many choices!
Fried chicken with collard greens, salad and fruit, black beans and rice …
That’s so Miami!
(Magaly Abrahante)
Ham, Cheese,
Chicken, Pickles,
Pork and sliced salami
Pressed between some Cuban bread,
Oh Lord that’s so Miami.
(Matthew Maule)
My friend’s surgery
is the reason for my Ajiaco.
Sweet corn, boniato, yuca
Squash, plantains, malanga,
All meet in a broth of organic chichen,
Onions, garlic,pepper and olive oil.
Caribbean comfort for the body
A loving embrace for the soul.
Oh, that’s so Miami!
(Raquel Puig Zaldivar)
Mangoes
Kissed by the sun
Goldenly scrumptious
Conjure all kinds of fun
From yummy desserts
To libations with rum
That’s so Miami.
(Luis Trujillo, North Miami, FL)
A medianoche at Versailles
not too kosher,
es la vida.
That’s so Miami.
(Connie Goodman-Milone)
Born and raised in My-ah-me
With a domino park and Pollo Tropical
With Sedano’s and food by the pound
With Willie Chirino and Celia Cruz
Living the American dream while snuggled warmly in Cuba
“That’s so Miami.”
(Rachel Diaz)
Eating Cuban Roast Pig
During Octoberfest
At the Greek Orthodox Church on Kendall
That’s SO Miami.
(Pat Milone, Redlands)
At the bodega
none of the shopping carts match
That’s so Miami!
(Olga Perez-Cormier)
How to say “I love you” in Cuban?
Flan, dulce de leche, torrejas
Sticky, sugary, creamy
Like Abuela used to make
That’s so Miami.
(Neyda Borges, Miami Lakes)
Follow Short Order on Facebook, on Twitter @Short_Order, and Instagram @ShortOrder.
