A Bowl of Goodness

An anthology of contemporary poems and soup recipes to nourish us, comfort us, and bind us together--gathered by award-winning poet Major Jackson.

Poetry and soup both offer sustenance and comfort. And yet, the secret ingredient to every great meal is not what we see on the plate, but who we see around the table. This anthology features poems by today's best poets that embody the idea of nourishment, comfort, and connection across cultures and generations. Among the poems are 24 of Major's own favorite soup recipes: from apple-parsnip to gumbo, borscht to bouillabaisse, there's something to tickle and warm all tastebuds.

Sprinkled throughout are side-dishes of soup-inspired stories by award-winning writers and chefs, including Ann Patchett and chef Jim Huntington of Maple Soul. Other contributors include Garrett Hongo, Jane Hirshfield, Pablo Neruda, Natasha Tretheway, Paul Muldoon, Rita Dove, Ilya Kaminsky, Kwame Dawes, Gary Snyder, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Kevin Young, and more.