WordCrew’s first publication was Tour de Farce (WordCrew, 2007: New York, NY), a small collection of poetry by Leigh Harrison.  Originally published by Ignatius Graffeo for New Spirit Press (1996: Kew Gardens, NY), Tour de Farce is a chapbook of humorous poems, some of which are Leigh’s original, whimsical creations, and some of which are in the style of other poets, and which subtly mimic their style.

 

Available as a chapbook from WordCrew for $8 ($7 + $1 S+H) it was Leigh’s first poetry collection, and contains such gems as Arse Poetica (a parody of Archibald MacLeisch), Birds In Winter (in the style of Robert Frost), The Raving (a take-off of Poe’s  The Raven), and This Poem, da buddafly, and Indeed which are Leigh’s original pieces.  Thirteen Ways of Looking at Wallace Stevens (which is a take-off

on Wallace Stevens’ Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird) is reprinted below. 

 

Please contact SongCrew for ordering information.

Over the years, Leigh has taught poetry, songwriting, and literature.  The recipe collection shown here was compiled by some of Leigh’s Korean students, and one of her students, Eunice Cho, created the cover illustration.  Inside are 17 recipes, some original sketches by Leigh, and such recipes as BulGoki, PaJun, Kamza Buchim, and Cabbage Kimchi.   Two of the recipes, Japanese Style Ginger Dressing and Kaeran Djim are shown below.

 

A copy of the chapbook is available from WordCrew for $6 ($5 +$1 S+H).  Contact us for ordering information.

 

 

KAERAN DJIM

(Contributed by Young)

 

Ingredients

2 eggs

2 oz. water

pinch of salt

scallions

 

Directions

In a bowl, beat eggs, salt, and water for 3 – 5 minutes

Wash and chop scallions. 

 

To steam: 

Pour into a ceramic or stone pot and cover with plastic wrap;

place in a larger pot filled with 2” water.

Add chopped scallions.

Steam the egg mixture until cooked.

Test with a spoon – when there is only clear water (NOT egg/water mixture) then the kaeran chim is done

 

OR:  To cook in a microwave:

Pour the egg mixture into a plastic bowl. 

Add the chopped scallions.

Microwave several minutes, until cooked.

Test as with steaming method.

 

(Other vegetables may also be chopped and added to mix besides scallions, such as chopped carrots, mushrooms, or even seafood, such as sliced shrimp.)  

JAPANESE STYLE GINGER DRESSING

(Contributed by Heon)

 

Ingredients

Ginger sauce:

   1 small pc. ginger

   2 tblsp. soy sauce

   1 tblsp. lemon juice

1 carrot

1 onion

½ an apple

1 stalk celery

1 c. sugar

1 c. white vinegar

2 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. mayonnaise

1 orange

 

Directions

Make the ginger sauce using a food processor or blender.

Grind the ginger with the soy sauce and lemon juice.

Clean and chop the carrot, onion, apple and celery

     in pieces ½ to ⅓ inch.  Put them in a large bowl.

Add the sugar, white vinegar, olive oil, mayonnaise,

     and add them into the bowl.

Peel the orange and squeeze it.  (If it is not seedless,

     remove the seeds.)  

Add the juice to the other ingredients.

Stir all of the ingredients and grind the final mixture

     using a mixer, food processor, or blender.

 

Serve with any salad.  (Works well with iceberg lettuce.)

 

THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING AT WALLACE STEVENS

   I

Among many deceased poets

The one with a truly quirky

Eye might have been an insurance salesman.

 

   II

I was of three minds about

The fellow with the blue guitar

But I dug the Miltonic 33’s of it.

 

   III

The poet whirled into analogy.

It was only a fragment of his whimsy.

 

   IV

A poet and his vision are one.

A poet and his vision and his style are one.

 

   V

I do not know which to mimic,

The cleverness of allegory,

Or the cleverness of syntax.

The poet scribbling

Or just before.

 

   VI

Transformation informed the subtle prose

With pointed barbs.

The shadow of the poet

Crossed it, back and forth.

The meaning

Scribed in the phrases

An unfathomable reference.

 

   VII

O actuary of Hartford,

Why do you envision olden words?

Do you not see how the litotes

Dance around the bodies of the

Hacks around you?

 

 

 

 

  VIII

I know forthright speech

And clear, dialectical simplicity;

But I’ve read, too,

That the poet is involved

In what I know.

 

   IX

When the wordsmith began coining new terms,

It lay the groundwork

For many a palace.

 

   X

Upon seeing the poet

Soaring to new metaphors,

Even my well-honed lines

Would chuckle in delight.

 

   XI

He wrote in Connecticut

In a meditative irony.

Once, a paradox seized him,

In that he confused

The bravado of his language

For landscapes.

 

   XII

The poet is skeptical.

The disillusionment must be a heaving ocean.

 

   XIII

It was painting all dreams.

It was alluding.

And it was going to contemplate.

The poets caveat

In the Cedar Tavern.