Limited edition, perfect bound
$18. USD (+ $5. shipping) Paperback, 81 pages |
Saporoso (Italian for “tasty”) is the latest collection of poems by Jennifer Barone in collaboration with artist Lam Khong. Saporoso reads like a robust, Italian dinner menu that explores the sensual nature of Italian culture, mythology, family, sex and love through Italian food and its natural, aphrodisiac qualities. As she states in her poem, “it is no small thing to eat” through making and sharing food, we find the basic thread of our humanity, connection to each other and ultimately an expression of love.
This newly updated, Second Edition by Feather Press includes three new poems, an additional section of the author’s family recipes, and features beautiful drawings by artist Lam Khong. Author Biography: 
Jennifer Barone is an Italian-American poet and artist. She is the author of three books of poetry, her most recent: Saporoso - Poems of Italian Food & Love. She is known to collaborate with artists and musicians as founder and co-host of the monthly WordParty Poetry & Jazz Series. She has been a featured poet at LitQuake, The SFJazz Poetry & Jazz Festival, The SF Public Library, The Red Poppy Art House, SF MoMa, DeYoung, and The Beat Museum. She is a winner of the 2007 and 2012 SF Public Library’s Poets Eleven contest for North Beach where she resides and has been published in literary journals such as The Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, and Quiet Lightning’s sPARKLE & bLINK. Visit: jenniferbarone.wordpress.com.
Lam Khong studied at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology; received his BFA from the College of Santa Fe, and MFA in Rome, Italy, through American University. He has participated in group and solo exhibitions in the United States and abroad including Berkeley, Boston, Denver, Florida, New York, Rome, and Santa Fe. What people are saying: "Saporoso fulfills you like you dream an idealistic, Italian dinner should. Jennifer is your cook, tenderly serving you delicious, lyrical morsels that touch your heart. This book, always open to serve you." — Mark Eisner, author of Neruda, The Poet's Calling "These rich poems taste of virgin olive oil and pulpy lemon, peach flesh and warm bread. Barone’s artful and sensual language not only celebrate the earthly pleasures of food, but also of the body. With its gorgeous illustrations by Lam Khong, Saporoso, is a book you will relish and remember." — Maw Shein Win, El Cerrito Poet Laureate and author of Score and Bone "Eating poetry is what we have always wanted. Today full of joy, I announce my resignation to continue eating food placed in dishes. Today, I announce the beginning of a feast of words in this book of salty verses, sweet silences, crisp stanzas, and juicy poems. Saporoso is the necessary food for pleasure seekers, for secret lovers and for connoisseurs of great taste in food and love." — Adrian Arias, award-winning artist, poet and author of Beautiful Trash: The Lost Library "Saporoso is a tenderly prepared, erotic feast of the senses. Barone merges physical ecstasy with spiritual rapture as every fruit, vegetable and herb is a vivid part of her lover to be savored. Exquisite illustrations by Lam Khong of various edibles immortalize their natural beauty, complementing Barone's poetry with elegant resonance." — Genny Lim, SFJazz Poet Laureate and author of Paper Gods and Rebels "Barone paints a sensual farmer’s market of delights full of textures, aromas, glimpses of color and whisps of yearning. Through a careful examination of a lemon, a loaf of bread, the moon, she unravels the intimate specificity of the experience of being alive. Barone’s poetry will heighten the senses and serves up the delicious flavors of life." — Philip T. Nails, founder of the LA Poetry Society and author of Evidence "Saporoso is tasty, sensuous, delicious, nutritious for the body and soul. Its menu offers up the history of food-gathering and love-gathering, relationships, familial and erotic, desire and hunger - perhaps approaching (or always pursuing) satiation. Gorgeous drawings by Lam Khong accompany the poems, to whet our appetites." — Norma Smith, author Home Remedy |