The Daily Poem

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' "Lemon Pie"

Oct 31, 2025
Explore the spooky themes of a tough crust in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' whimsical poem. The narrator delves into Rawlings' career and her playful use of light verse. Enjoy a humorous analysis of the poem's poetic structure and learn about its charming mock-epic tone. Reflect on baking as a way to connect with neighbors, alongside a nostalgic Halloween story. Two readings of the poem provide a delightful experience, making it a treat for poetry lovers.
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ANECDOTE

Long Quest For The Perfect Pie

  • Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings recounts struggling ten to fifteen years to make good lemon pie.
  • She persisted through thin crusts, thick paste, and dry meringue until she mastered it and earned village praise.
INSIGHT

Light Verse With Serious Grounding

  • Sean Johnson notes Rawlings' verse balances wit and grounding ethos, making light verse feel substantial.
  • He highlights her use of common (ballad) meter and a mock-epic tone with the Waterloo allusion.
ANECDOTE

Recommendation: Songs Of A Housewife

  • Johnson recommends Songs of a Housewife, the only collected volume of Rawlings' verse.
  • He notes it includes poems she wrote for the Rochester Times Union before her later novels.
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