food & a poet's philosophy

Welcome to Poetry Feasting where you will find the poetry of Geoffrey Aitken and favourite recipes of Jenny Aitken. For your enjoyment this site is refreshed weekly.
 
Geoffrey and Jenny acknowledge the Kaurna People as the true custodians of the Adelaide Region and their connections to land, sea, and community. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded and we pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. 

Geoffrey Aitken is an awarded South Australian poet and retired educator who writes on unceded Kaurna land. He won a place (of three) in the Friendly Street Poets Anthology "New Poets 19". His debut industrial signature styled Chapbook 'i want that in writing' was generated from his 'open mic' spoken word poetry. His poetry credits include AUS, UK, US, FR, CAN and CN and Fr. 
Geoffrey has featured at 'The Good Word' - Capt. Rehab on Nile Street in Port Adelaide, 'Speak Hear' in the city on Hindley Street at Wakanda Multicultural Bar, 'SPIN' the 'open mic' of the Adelaide southern suburbs at the Willunga Alma Hotel and in 2019 at 'SPIN' Moana and on several occasions has enjoyed sharing thirty minutes of poetry on Happy FM 90.1 with host Jan Potter and the great southern radio audience on her Tuesday Fleurieu poetry show 'Words to Share'. He is a member of 'Friendly Street' and 'The Ochre Coast Poets'.
His 'lived experience' concerns him about mental health along our avenues. Visit these links for a fuller picture of Geoffrey, his experiences, and his craft. 
Finally, A Beginning by Geoffrey Aitken — wattletales.com.au 
with thanks to Lindy Warrell and 
https://www.theperspectiveproject.co.uk/geoffrey-aitken 
with thanks to Rachel Berlingieri 
Publications Available for Purchase
'i want that in writing'Geoffrey Aitken’s 'i want that in writing' invites purchase (@ $5.00AU) for ongoing encouragement, recognition, and your enjoyment. Otherwise available at https://www.ginninderrapress.com.au/chapbooks.html
and 
"New Poets 19" Geoffrey also has copies of the Friendly Street Poets' Anthology "New Poets 19" (Rainbow Press 2018) in which his poetry appears and remains available at a reduced and very saleable price of $15.00AU. Free postage within Australia.
Most Recent Publications 
Most recently at 'Ariel Chart' & Plum Tree Tavern', (US), 'Wishbone Words' (UK), & 'Old Water Rat Publishing. Burrow Issue 5' (AUS). He is also to be published in 'Social Alternatives' & 'The Canberra Times' (AUS) later this year. 
Check the Publication History page for all poems accepted for publication. 

One thing I have learnt is that you can't give up on family no matter how tempting they make it. Like every family we had our moments but Dad and Mum you made our family special. You filled our lives with so much love and you never told us who we should be you both just enjoyed life and we watched. My passion for cooking comes from my mother Ruth to whom I dedicate this page. My love of entertaining started in the mid 60’s when Dad knocked down a wall to make a dining room. The dining table, beautifully crafted by my grandfather Richard 'Dick' Rees, set with the best crockery and glasses, family favourites and the ‘hospitality of the table’ formed the basis of the entertaining Geoff and I still do today. Sadly my childhood home at Warradale, primary and high schools and the church, a huge part of my childhood socially and where I played sport (meeting Geoff as a young 15 year old whilst playing tennis) have all been demolished. Recipes are a mixture of family favourites, classic comfort foods or taken from reading cookbooks and the latest online blogs.
Artwork on the front cover of 'My Family Cooks' a family cookbook was drawn by daughter Jess one Sunday afternoon when she was about 9 years old.

Enjoy and feel free to give us any feedback. Please use the contact form for your purchase/s or engage Geoffrey or Jenny in friendly conversation.