An Unusual Walk...Poetry in Motion

All truly great thoughts
are conceived by walking.
Friedrich Nietzche

If you are seeking creative ideas,
go out walking.
Angels whisper to man
when he goes for a walk.
Raymond Inmon

A Poetic Fall Ramble by Veronica Newington, a feature story in the Star Tribune (Sunday Nov. 14th) caught my interest. It is a rather intriguing thought how walking and poetry can be meshed together to inspire creativity. The town of Red Wing in Minnesota offers a self guided Poetry Barn tour. It is 20 mile loop tour that can be done by car or bike to view four different barns that each have a seasonal poem etched on their side. These poems were part of a project conceived by Massachusetts poet, Mark Mendal, who was involved in Word Works, a festival sponsored by Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1983. He found four farmers who were willing to post his seasonal poems on their barns.
Reading this article was a segue into wondering if they are other poetic walking tours available. For those who have an adventurous spirit, love to travel, enjoy poetry and getting exercise then I have just the tours for you. Note: these are real tours!
The first one is located in Central London. It is a poetry walk along the banks of the Thames. Relevant poems are recited at several famous landmarks by local guides. If traveling to the UK is a bit much then how about New York City? There is an organization of artists called Electric City that lead walks around New York. They encourage participants to listen and look for things they don't usually pay attention to around them. It is their hope these walks will inspire creativity and poetry writing. Washington, DC hosts a poetry tour through the eyes of its great poets, scholars and musicians in the nation's capital. Poetry lovers can download audio tours and maps to help in their exploration of the National Mall and other famous D.C. spots.
I suppose all this exercise talk has you thinking about a break??? Perhaps you will get a second wind and try this recipe.

Brownie Torte

Ingredients:
Brownie Layer

• 6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
• Use 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup margarine= 1/2 cup
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup almonds
• 2 TB. Kahlua

Almond Macaroon Layer

• 4 oz. softened cream cheese
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 TB. flour
• 1/3 can almond paste (it is in baking aisle)
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds

Directions: Brownie layer

• Microwave chocolate and butter- stir until smooth
• Stir in 2/3 cup sugar and vanilla
• Stir flour in to blend and add 1/3 cup almonds
• Line a 8 or 9 inch square pan with foil extending over edges
• Grease foil and spread brownie batter on it

Directions: Almond Macaroon Layer

• In a food processor add 1/3 can almond paste mixed with 1 TB. flour
• Mix softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, egg and 1TB. flour, almond paste and 1/3 cup almonds
• Spread over brownie layer
• Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
  
• Do not overbake