Food and friendship are two universal elements that bring people together. Both nourish the soul. Through history, poets have used food to symbolize love, companionship, and community. In this article, we explore thirteen poems that celebrate food and friendship. Each poem shows how sharing meals can weave bonds between people. We also include excerpts to highlight the beauty of each piece.
13 Poems About Food and Friendship You Can’t Miss
1. “To a Poor Old Woman” by William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams often wrote about everyday moments. In “To a Poor Old Woman,” he shows how simple food can bring deep comfort.
“They taste good to her.
They taste good to her.
They taste good to her.”
The woman eating plums reminds us of how food brings comfort and peace. While the poem focuses on the woman’s private joy, it speaks to how sharing or observing such small acts builds quiet connections.
Source: Collected Poems: Volume I, 1909–1939 (1986)
2. “This Is Just To Say” by William Carlos Williams
Another famous poem by Williams, “This Is Just To Say,” captures a moment between two people where food becomes a playful form of communication.
“I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox”
This note of apology is also a confession of temptation and intimacy. It is a tender glimpse of everyday life between people who know each other well.
Source: Spring and All (1923)
3. “A Loaf of Poetry” by Naoshi Koriyama
Naoshi Koriyama’s “A Loaf of Poetry” imagines poetry itself as bread, kneaded with care and offered to others.
“Bake it well
Let it rise…”
The poem equates creating poetry with making bread. In both acts, patience and love are necessary. Sharing poetry, like sharing food, becomes an act of friendship.
Source: Selected Poems of Naoshi Koriyama (1992)
4. “Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks
In “Bean Eaters,” Brooks writes about an old couple living quietly and eating simple meals.
“They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.”
The act of eating beans together speaks to their long companionship. Their shared meals show the strong bond of friendship built over time.
Source: The Bean Eaters (1960)
5. “Figs” by D.H. Lawrence
D.H. Lawrence explores the sensual act of eating figs, linking food with intimacy and trust.
“The vulgar way
Is just to put your mouth to the crack, and take out the flesh in one bite.”
The fig becomes a symbol of vulnerability. Sharing food this openly hints at the deep trust found between true friends or lovers.
Source: Birds, Beasts and Flowers (1923)
6. “Eating Together” by Li-Young Lee
Li-Young Lee often wrote about family meals. “Eating Together” shows a family gathering after a loss.
“In the steamer is the trout
seasoned with slivers of ginger.”
The careful preparation of food becomes an act of remembrance. Sharing the meal connects the family through their grief and love.
Source: Rose (1986)
7. “The Orange” by Wendy Cope
In “The Orange,” Cope captures pure joy in simple daily pleasures, including sharing food.
“I gave an orange to a friend,
And that made me feel better.”
The orange becomes a small but powerful symbol of generosity and friendship. It shows how even little acts of kindness can make life brighter.
Source: Serious Concerns (1992)
8. “Apples” by Laurie Lee
Laurie Lee’s poem “Apples” recalls the warmth of autumn days and shared harvests.
“Behold the apples’ rounded worlds.”
Apples represent abundance and the beauty of sharing harvests. Lee connects food and friendship with nature’s gifts.
Source: Collected Poems (1991)
9. “Potluck” by Cathy Song
In “Potluck,” Cathy Song writes about a community gathering where everyone brings a dish.
“Each plate a fingerprint of love,
a signature of flavor.”
The potluck shows how shared meals foster community. Every dish tells a story of care and connection.
Source: Cloud Moving Hands (2007)
10. “Peaches” by Peter Davison
Peter Davison’s “Peaches” captures a summer memory filled with sweetness and companionship.
“We sat on the steps
Eating peaches, their juice running down our wrists.”
The image of eating peaches with friends becomes a lasting, tender memory. It reminds us of how food anchors happy moments.
Source: The Fading Smile (1994)
11. “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield (excerpt)
Although “The Garden Party” is a short story, it contains poetic moments about food and class. One beautiful passage describes the feast.
“Cream puffs so light
they might have floated away.”
The food serves as a way to welcome and impress guests. It reflects the desire to connect and celebrate through meals.
Source: The Garden Party and Other Stories (1922)
12. “A Blessing” by James Wright
In “A Blessing,” James Wright uses natural imagery to describe a moment of shared joy.
“We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
and let the horses come up to us.”
While not directly about food, the sharing of space and simple presence echoes the ritual of sharing a meal. True friendship often feels like this gentle, wordless understanding.
Source: Above the River: The Complete Poems (1990)
13. “Ode to Bread” by Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda often celebrated ordinary things. In “Ode to Bread,” he praises bread as a symbol of unity.
“Let us sit together again
at the common table.”
Bread stands for survival, peace, and friendship. Neruda’s ode reminds us that eating together can be a revolutionary act of love and hope.
Source: Elementary Odes (1954)
Themes Across the Poems
These thirteen poems reveal several powerful themes about food and friendship:
Food as Comfort: Whether it’s plums, beans, or bread, food soothes and nourishes people emotionally as well as physically.
Shared Meals as Rituals: Many poems show how eating together marks important events, from loss (Li-Young Lee) to celebration (Cathy Song).
Generosity and Love: Giving food — an orange, a peach, a plate at a potluck — becomes an act of kindness and care.
Everyday Beauty: Simple foods often appear in these poems. Everyday acts become sacred through the poet’s careful attention.
Memory and Nostalgia: Eating together creates memories. These memories linger and define friendships and families for years.
Conclusion
Food and friendship are intertwined in beautiful, lasting ways. Through poems by William Carlos Williams, Pablo Neruda, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, we see how small, shared moments around food have the power to nourish the human spirit.
In a world that often feels rushed, these poems remind us to slow down. To savor the taste of a meal. To honor the company we keep. And to find poetry not just in great events, but in every ordinary bite shared with a friend.
