Customer Reviews

Spud Songs: An Anthology of Potato Poems : To Benefit Hunger Relief

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This collection of potato poetry was published in 1999 by Hellicon Nine Editions which promised to donate 15% of the book's price to Share Our Strength, "one of the nation's leading anti-hunger, anti-poverty groups. Gloria Vando and Robert Stewart, who also wrote the book's introduction, edited Spud Songs.

This is an varied and eclectic mix of poetry, mostly free verse, some structured, some stream of consciousness, some narrative, some humorous, some lyrical, and some barely over the line differentiating poetry and prose. The reader will find a bite of everything here, a veritable smorgasbord of spud verse and sentiment.


A book with such a grand and diverse collection of authors, styles, moods, and topics can't be painted with a single brush stroke. Thought the poems of Spud Songs share a common theme, the products of the authors vary widely

The quality of the poetry in this collection is quite uneven, and sad to say, too many are disappointing. My expectations were high considering the pedigree of the authors. Much of the verse, if written without line breaks, would be indistinguishable from prose. Those who favor traditional poetry with rhyme and form, meter and stanza, will be sorely disappointed. Many of the so-called Spud Songs are free form narratives, spotlighting an experience of the author's past and a spud connection.

Each line of one poem begins with letters that spell HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I like this kind of creativity.
Some poems connect with the reader's experience, some inspire thought and reflection, some provoke smiles, and some are regrettably too forgettable save for the spud reflections. Maxine Chernoff's memorable poem "Breasts" is mostly about breasts with a few lines of gratuitous potato talk embedded. I don't really understand the poem, but it held my attention.

Interspersed throughout the book is some graphic art also. A lithograph by Gertrude Degenhardt of a person holding two spoons bearing potatoes is quite good. Also to be found in this book are potato print art, potato photographs, paintings, and mixed media art. Jan Gilbert's Four French Fries is one of my favorites, its four fries in stark contrast to the dark background makes a profound statement. I'm not sure what that statement is, but I'm sure it's profound.

This is not a book with mass appeal. It might one day be considered a fry by night hash in the pan.

There are many fine poems in this volume! Check out Brian Daldorph's "Spuds" for starters. (Page 133)