Category: Pumpkin-spice

The Spice of Life

8/31/2020

It's back, Pumpkin -- the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks!

In honor of its return, we have posted Emmett Dickinson's classic poem, "Because I stopped for Pumpkin Spice," below on the left. Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem, "Because I could not Stop for Death," below on the right.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: To see our past posts on pumpkin spice, click HERE and scroll down.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Because I stopped for Pumpkin Spice
It kindly topped for me –
A Grande Cold Brew for myself
With spiced Intensity

I slowly sipped – I knew no haste
For I had put away
My labor for this sweetened brew,
With Pumpkin Piquancy

I sipped the Joe, with creamy Foam
At Recess – on the Top –
I sipped the Pumpkin Spiced Delight
I sipped the creamy Froth

Or rather – I gulped It –
The Taste caused quivering and Chill –
And all my Discipline, was Gone –
My Taste buds – now Fulfilled –

I paused to Catch my breath and sensed
A Draining of the Cup
The Drink now scarcely visible –
The Coffee – all drunk Up –

Since then – ‘tis Moments now -- and yet
Feels longer than a Year
I first consumed the Frothy Head
When Pumpkin Spice Premiered –

By Emily Dickinson:

Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed Us –
The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –

NO POET HAS WRITTEN MORE POEMS ABOUT COFFEE THAN EMMETT LEE DICKINSON.
TO SAMPLE SOME OF DICKINSON'S POETRY ABOUT COFFEE, CLICK HERE.

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The Great Pumpkin Spice

9/24/2017

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From our food editor,Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

Now that we're in the heart of pumpkin spice season, I've been writing about pumpkin spice and sharing poems about pumpkin spice by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). You can ready my posts HERE, HERE and HERE.

Today, I thought I would share EIGHT FACTS about pumpkin spice that most people might not know:

1. After her popularity began to eclipse the other members of the group, Pumpkin Spice was replaced by the Spice Gils with Scary Spice.

2. Some of Donald Trump’s facial make up is called Pumpkin Spice.

3. The pumpkin spice patch (at the left) is the third most prescribed addiction patch, behind NicoDerm’s extended release nicotine patch and Transderm Scōp’s prescription patch, Nachonix, used for adults to help reduce cravings for Dorito’s nacho-flavored chips, including Jacked 3D Bacon Cheddar Ranch chips, Jacked Spicy Street Taco chips, and Dinamita Fiery Habenero chips.

4. Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) is the only poet to have written poems about pumpkin spice.

5. Lady Gaga, who sponsors the Lady Gaga Pro-Am Bowling Tournament every January at the Babes & Balls Bowling Lanes on Dickinson Boulevard in historic Washerst, PA (the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson), owns an orange cat named Pumpkin Spice.

6. In the late-1800s, pumpkin spice was mixed with an autointoxication regime to cure a painful gastro-intestinal condition known as “melon bowels.”

7. Only a handful of products with pumpkin spice have failed, including Oscar Mayer’s pumpkin spice bologna, Titleist’s Pro V1x golf balls with pumpkin spice, and Brach’s pumpkin spice black licorice.

8. In the 1980s, Cottonelle introduced a two-ply toilet tissue with pumpkin spice, but it was discontinued a few months later when it was found to cause an inflammation and discoloration of the skin called pumpkin rash.

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Old Spice

9/23/2017

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From our food editor Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

The entire pumpkin spice craze began in the late-1800s due to a poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin twice removed -- at her request). We wrote about it recently HERE. The fad took off ever since, and there seems to be no letting up. We even shared a recent post with some of the most popular pumpkin spice recipes from the kitchens of the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum's snack bar. The recipes are HERE.

Some, though, say that the PS-craze has gone too far -- and they point to the many products shown below to show that the world has gone pumpkin-spice crazy!

Below: Many products now contain pumpkin spice, including Harris' Bed Bug Killer, most major gasolines, Suprep's Bowel Prep Kit for colonoscopies, and various brands of pumpkin pie filler. Click the images to enlarge.

Of course, every year when the PS-season is over, it feels like an eternity until pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins, and other pumpkin spiced products return -- but to those who partake, they all agree that the long wait was worth it, just like Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote in his poem "Renewed Significance a thirsty man attaches" (below on the left). Who knows -- maybe his poem motivated third cousin Emily to sip a pumpkin spice latte -- but it most certainly did inspire her to pen her poem "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Renewed Significance a thirsty man attaches
To Spice –
Pumpkin – He buys – and therefore – Hopeful –
And therefore – Good –

Partaken – it achieves – indeed –
And proves us
That Spices fly
In the Receipt – It was the Long Wait –
Was Worth it –

By Emily Dickinson:

Undue Significance a starving man attaches
To Food –
Far off – He sighs – and therefore – Hopeless –
And therefore – Good –

Partaken – it relieves – indeed –
But proves us
That Spices fly
In the Receipt – It was the Distance –
Was Savory –

Below: For years Bill O'Reilly railed against the War on Pumpkin Spice Season because many non-spicers refused to acknowledge, recognize, and legitimize the pumpkin spice season in government, media, advertising, and retail.

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Recipe for Success

9/22/2017

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From our food editor Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

It's autumn, and that means the start of the pumpkin spice season!

The pumpkin spice craze started back in the late 1800s after Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed --at her request) published his poem "Would you like Autumn? Taste of ours." You can read the poem and all about the origin of the pumpkin spice craze HERE.

The PS-craze is still going strong, so we thought we'd share some of the more popular pumpkin-spice recipes from the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum kitchens.

Whether you try one or try them all, you're sure to savor the zest of pumpkin spice!

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Spice It Up!

9/21/2017

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From the desk of our food editor, Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves change color autumn-atically, and the lattes include pumpkin spice! #PSL, amirite?

Did you know that Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) was the first to add pumpkin spice to autumn? That’s right – it stems from his poem “Would you like autumn? Taste of ours” (below on the left).

Of course, Dickinson emphasized many of the likeable features of fall in his poem: homemade apple cobblers, colorful foliage, invigorating weather, and even festive celebrations like Octoberfest and Halloween!

So take a look below at Dickinson’s poem, and perhaps it will inspire you to add some pumpkin spice to your next latte. Or maybe it will inspire you to write a your own poem about autumn – even though it motivated his third cousin Emily to write about summer in “Would you like summer? Taste of ours” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Would you like autumn? Taste of ours.
Spices? Pumpkin!
Chill! We have apples, for the cobbler!
Wistful! Leaves falling down!
Effects! Estates of violet maples to
look upon!
Active! We bring relief with breezes!
Festing! Steins of beer!
Even for Death, a scary skeleton.
But, which is it, sir?

By Emily Dickinson:

Would you like summer? Taste of ours.
Spices? Buy here!
Ill! We have berries, for the parching!
Weary! Furloughs of down!
Perplexed! Estates of violet trouble ne'er
looked on!
Captive! We bring reprieve of roses!
Fainting! Flasks of air!
Even for Death, a fairy medicine.
But, which is it, sir?

Below: Only a small fraction of the products that have been pumpkin spiced -- all thanks to Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem:

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The Spice of Life

The Great Pumpkin Spice

Old Spice

Recipe for Success

Spice It Up!

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