Way back in the day before I was a professional glutton, before Sriracha sauce was a staple condiment, I was an English major. So in honor of my roots today’s edition of The Seven is devoted to some of my favorite poems about food. For your dining pleasure I’ve suggested food pairings.

1. The Emperor of Ice Cream, by Wallace Stevens
Pair this dark and strange poem with a bowl of freshly whipped cream.

2. A Supermarket in California, by Allen Ginsberg
Beat Poet Allen Ginsberg’s encounter with his inspiration Walt Whitman in a supermarket. Pair with “artichokes . . .[and] every frozen delicacy.”

3. The Clean Plater, by Ogden Nash
Nash’s ditty about an indiscriminate passionate eater is best paired with,”Food/Just food/Just any old kind of food.” That said the author seems to have a preference for
sirloin and asparagus tips vinaigrette.

4. This Is Just to Say, by William Carlos Williams
This classic apologizing for author’s snatching some fruit from the fridge is best paired with cold, sweet plums.

5. Blue Plate, by Jesse Lee Kercheval
A poem about authenticity and gentrification revolving around “The Blue Plate, a designer diner, opened,/all aluminum and curves.” Pair it with the oatmeal and foie gras from M.Wells Dinette.

6. Bloody Bill, by Dennis Lee 
This children’s poem is a tale of victory over a bullying pirate. The protagonist pummels his enemy with various foodstuffs: “I pelted him with melted cheese/And fourteen deviled eggs;/I tied spaghetti to his hair,/Lasagna to his legs,” Pair with your favorite red sauce Italian dish.

7. Bleezer’s Ice Cream, Jack Prelutsky
Another children’s poem devoted to the 28 flavors of an imaginary scoop shop, including: “TUNA TACO BAKED POTATO/LOBSTER LITCHI LIMA BEAN/MOZZARELLA MANGOSTEEN.” Pair it with Nova Lox ice cream from Max and Mina’s. Or perhaps some macaroni and cheese pancakes from Shopsins.