A Short Stack of Poems, Covered with Syrup

Mm'mm... Pancakes! On March 25, 1882, a New York City department store staged the first public pancake-making demonstration, introducing griddle cakes to a hungry breakfast-eating nation. By 1889, Aunt Jemima was selling ready-to-make pancake mix: the irresistible aroma of warm flapjacks has filled American kitchens (and delicious hotcakes have filled hungry tummies) ever since.  Today, Poetry on Parade celebrates Pancakes Day with a short stack of tasty poems, served warm, dripping with butter, and covered with rich maple syrup: 

Pancake Poem

Who wants a pancake,

Sweet and piping hot?

Good little Grace looks up and says,

"I'll take the one on top."

Who else wants a pancake,

Fresh off the griddle?

Terrible Teresa smiles and says,

"I'll take the one in the middle."

--Shel Silverstein

Pancakes come in many different shapes and sizes: we've seen pancakes that resemble snowflakes, hearts, flowers, bunnies... even Darth Vader!  Plain buttermilk pancakes are tasty, but how do we make our batter better?  We add apple chunks, banana slices, blueberries, pecans, or chocolate chips!

Pancake Song

Mix a pancake,

Stir a pancake,
Pop it in the pan.
Fry the pancake,
Toss the pancake,
Catch it if you can.

-- Christina Rossetti

Poetry Paraders know that pancake treats are fun to make and fun to eat.  Our next poem, The Pancake Collector, suggests that pancakes might be used successfully in home decorating.  We like pancakes, and we like this poem-- but we don't encourage wearing pancakes to school.  Not a good wardrobe choice! 

Come visit my pancake collection

It's unique in the civilized world.

I have pancakes in every description,

Pancakes flaky and fluffy and curled.

I have pancakes of various sizes,

Pancakes regular, heavy and light.

Underdone pancakes and overdone pancakes

And pancakes so perfectly right.

I have pancakes locked up in the closets,

have pancakes on hangers and hooks.

There are bags in boxes and bureaus

And pressed in the pages of books.

There are pretty ones sewn to the cushions

And tastefully pinned to the drapes.

The ceilings are coated with pancakes

And pressed in the pages with crepes.

I have pancakes in most of my pockets

And concealed in the lining of suits.

There are tiny ones stuffed in my mittens

And large one packed in my boots.

I have extra of most of my pancakes,

I maintain them in rows on these shelves,

And if you say nice things about them

You may take a few home for yourself.

I see that you've got to be going,

Won't you let yourselves out by the door?

It is time that I pour out he batter

And bake up a few hundred more.

-- Jack Prelutsky

In most of the United States, pancakes are just called pancakes: early Americans ate johnnycakes, and it's hotcakes or flapjacks if you're from New England.  In Germany, Poetry Paraders eat potato pancakes, while French poets savor their crepes. In Scotland, they're devouring drop scones, while the Irish enjoy their boxty.  China, of course has the bao bing; Indonesia, the dadar gutung.  And all the while, the people of India are busy eating their poori. Whatever we name them and wherever in the world we eat them, a short stack of pancakes can be quite filling; however, on Pancakes Day, a short stack of poems about pancakes leaves us hungry for more!