Food and A Poet’s Philosophy. The poetry of Geoffrey Aitken and favourite recipes of Jenny Aitken

Geoffrey Aitken is an awarded South Australian poet and retired educator who writes on unceded Kaurna land. His 'lived experience' concerns him about mental health along our avenues and he uses it thematically to share with readers and listeners who find his expressiveness both timeless and warmly comforting. His debut industrial signature-styled Chapbook 'i want that in writing' was generated from his 'open mic' spoken word poetry in 2020.This has been followed by an insightful look into the shadows of poor mental health in 'No Laughing Matter' demonstrating his brand of ironically wry irresistible humour. 'synonymous' nominated for Best of the Net 2022.

Geoffrey began his journey after winning a place (of three in 2018) in the Friendly Street Poets Anthology "New Poets 19". 
Judge Thom Sullivan -  'Soundings ~ Geoffrey Aitken: Much of the pleasure is in its singularity of voice, style and conviction, its focus as a collection is politics, its institutions, and its consequences - and, importantly for a poet, its language. But the poems do more than just contribute to the conversation. As the poet quips in one poem, 'school is not / for everyone / but it is compulsory'. The poems are strident and energetic, and imbued with the same sense of irony and defiance.' 

His poetry credits include AUS, UK, US, FR, CAN, CN, and Fr.

Geoffrey has been the featured poet 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 most recently at VoiceBox again in Port Adelaide. Visit these links for a fuller picture of Geoffrey, his experiences, and his craft.
Finally, A Beginning by Geoff rey Aitken — wattletales.com.au with thanks to Lindy Warrell
https://www.theperspectiveproject.co.uk/geoffrey-aitken with thanks to Rachel Berlingieri 
https://www.facebook.com/100049612571571/videos/1126443204627328/. with thanks to Tina Cane, Poet Laureate for Rhode Island
synonymous | Geoffrey Aitken | Radon Journal

Synonymous
i am a shopaholic

a neo-progressive
basket filler
of contemporary ideals
and political propriety

i communicate relevance
while recycling
off-handedness
carelessness
and immediacy

i still seek value
quality and durability
while transacting
good humour
reliability
and authenticity

I power purchase

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS

2025 Monash University Publishing ‘drone anger’ first published September 2025 in Verge 2025 blue Anthology, page 83, edited by Cassie Kropp,Yong Li, Adara Rose Luis and Jonathan Ricketson  Verge 2025 - Monash University Publishing

2025 Stepaway Magazine ‘city light’ first published August 2025 Editor Darren Carlaw https://stepawaymagazine.com/

2025 Twenty-Two Twenty-Eight ‘surprised by the timing’ & ‘this didn’t happen yesterday’ first published August 2025 https://www.twentytwotwentyeight.com/single-post/selected-poetry-by-geoffrey-aitken

2025 The Amazine ‘washed out’ first published ‘The Amazine’ 2025 The Amazine Community – Keep Wonder Alive and Kicking 

2025 Underbelly Press ‘pay packets’ first published at Issue Four Underbelly Press edited by Lucy Huddleston page 84  Issue Four | Underbelly Press  

2025 Macrame Literary Journal  ‘40 rue Saint Paul’ first published Summer 2025 Edition Macrame Literary Journal  40 rue Saint Paul - Literary Journal 

My passion for cooking comes from my mother Ruth to whom I dedicate this page.  

Geoffrey - 'Ruth introduced me to a range of foods and behaviours unknown to me and my sheltered but rebellious ways... she through Jen assisted a young, reserved and shy lad to open up and enjoy the life she knew had been given to us from her Methodist God. I enjoyed family gatherings the like I'd not previously experienced and to my glee was graciously accepted as another member... as valued as any other.' 

My love of entertaining started in the mid 60’s when my father Colin knocked down a wall to make a dining room. The dining table, now a treasured family heirloom crafted by my grandfather Richard 'Dick' Rees, set with the best crockery, glasses and delicious family favourites formed the basis of the entertaining Geoff and I still do today. Recipes are a mixture of family favourites, classic comfort foods or taken from reading cookbooks and the latest online blogs. 

After collecting family recipes and memories from 5 generations in 2011 I compiled a cookbook to celebrate the lives, loves & traditions of my grandparents Emily and Reginald (Bay & Bunny) Blundell and their families. The artwork on the front cover of  'My Family Cooks' was drawn by 9 year old daughter Jess one Sunday afternoon. The book dedicated with much love to Geoff and Jess would make my life complete if they ate Tuna Mornay. The recipes prove that a good recipe will outlast the latest fad or trend. I can’t envisage what a kitchen in the future will look like or the recipes future generations will be cooking but I would like to think that some of the recipes chosen by you to go into this book will have their place.’

Times have changed with recipes today needing to be adapted to respect specific dietary needs/lifestyle choices of family and friends and their disappointment of having to eat something different.