OurLittleCorner

Oct. 27, 2026 – Ann is in OurLittleCorner today

Poetry in Motion

I’m Andy Deseran and I approve of this message.

Three couples among our very “senior” friends have recently gone on long trips together. One couple traveled together for 3 1/2 weeks in the Mediterranean region; one couple traveled together for 2 1/2 weeks in Japan. One couple spends more time on cruises than they do at home in Texas.

I’m thinking about them – and applauding them – because Andy and I just got back from spending 10 days together (with some intervention from family and friends) in New York, and we’re exhausted. Couples’ therapy has never sounded so tempting! 🙂

I’m teasing, of course. But too much time together can challenge even a marriage of almost 60 years. I think that’s why this poem caught my attention.

An interesting aside: NY’s Mayor Mamdani is working to eliminate much of NY City’s abundant (and annoying) scaffolding.

The poem, which is by the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet Seamus Heaney, comes from a fascinating selection of poems – with accompanying art work – that the Poetry Society of America entitles “Poetry in Motion.” Since 1992, these poems have been placed in transit locations across the U.S. At various times you may have found a few of these poems not only in the MTA, NYC’s transit, but in such diverse places as New Orleans, Boise, Fresno, Milwaukee, Austin, Nashville, and even in my hometown, Fort Collins, Colorado (and a strange coincidence: the poem “Scaffolding and Wind” by Forrest Gander was one of the Fort Collins poems). Our Brooklyn son commented how pleasant it is to find these poems to read and enjoy while you’re down in the somewhat bleak NYC subway system.

I took photos of 12 of these poems during our visit to the New YorkTransit Museum, but the only photo of a poem that’s clear enough to post was taken by our friend Lynne (you can spot her with her iPhone, mirrored in the photo). “Subway” is by Billy Collins. I think it’s beautiful. And relevant.

Choosing today’s recipe was a no-brainer. What could be better to go with my lead poem about scaffolding and walls than a recipe for a Wall-dorf salad! :). Plus, it originated in NYC.

The original Waldorf salad was introduced in 1893 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 301 Park Ave in NYC, so it’s especially appropriate for this NYC-focused blog.
Original recipe from the maitre d’of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, Oscar Tschirky
Wall-dorf Waldorf Salad

Wall-dorf Waldorf Salad

Make this Thanksgiving morning for a perfect salad to go with your turkey. This is a riff on the Waldorf salad recipe in my 1965 Better Homes and Garden Cook Book. Why Wall-dorf? Well, it all has to do with tying it into my blog about this poem.

  • 2  c apples, diced (if organic, apples may be used unpeeled)
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp Diamond kosher salt
  • 1 c seedless red grapes, halved, or 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1 c thinly sliced celery
  • 1 c chopped walnuts – or pecans (toasting the nuts is optional but tasty)
  • 1/4 c mayonnaise
  • 1/3 c whipping cream, whipped (or substitute 1/4 c Greek yogurt)
  • lettuce (for serving)

Sprinkle apple cubes with sugar, lemon, and salt and mix together. Fold in grapes, celery, and walnuts (if you’re using nuts).

Fold the mayonnaise into the whipped cream and then fold that into the apple mixture. Chill. Serve on top of lettuce.

Recipe brought to you by BigLittleMeals.com and Andy and Ann.

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