Our three schnoodles aren’t spoiled, but they do expect a hand-fed breakfast every morning, so my husband gives them bites of graham crackers or Teddy Grahams. As they were sitting by the fire on Sunday morning having their royal feast, I wondered about the origins of graham crackers. I was thinking that perhaps since the Huitain is a French form of poetry and poodles are a German breed but are the national dog of France, then maybe if the crackers were of French origin, I could work all of that into a poem and serve it up like a fresh-baked croissant, all buttery and warm.
It was not to be.
I learned more about graham crackers than I should know.
The crackers do not have French origins, and they were not invented to feed little dogs a healthy breakfast snack. They were invented by a preacher, Reverend Graham, who baked them to dissuade physical affection. I got quite an eye-opening education about these seemingly innocent little wafers. Who knew?
Huitain Graham Cracker Purity
three schnoodles when hungry like graham squares
breakfast with Dad inspired Mom to inquire
to see where they started, these squares and bears
***
oh my! a sermon: brimstone and hellfire!
to repress our deepest carnal desire
crackers were baked to dissuade our urges
to keep us out of the funeral pyre
***
stay dressed! eat crackers! say NO to merges!
Common Threads 
Kim,
It’s not nice to lie! LOL! Those precious boys don’t look soiled at all. Of course a dog not spoiled would never lie on the back of your chair or be hand-fed graham crackers! Don’t worry, your secret is safe w/ me. Boo and Ollie, however, told Snug, and he’s now insisting his dad buy him Teddy Grahams.
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Glenda, if Boo Radley and Snug ever get to meet in real life, I think we’ll find some brothers joined at the hip. Maybe the aging hip, but a hip nonetheless!
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Well, that was unexpected! Thanks for sharing this hidden side of graham crackers. Who knew?!?
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Not what I thought! I love that you still turned it into a poem and I’ll think about the differently as I pack them in lunchboxes this morning!
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This does pair nicely with Dawn’s caribou slice. I liked the “bears/ oh my!” pairing too, since our school is performing the Wizard of Oz next month. And rhyming urges with merges is just the kind of thing that makes my day. Thanks for the education and entertainment. It was good to meet you yesterday.
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Thank you, Peter! It was great to meet you also, and thanks for reading. I was an emerald girl in The Wizard of Oz when I was in elementary school. The Wizard, a news reporter in our town, had been to a party and showed up drunk on the closing night and messed up all the lines. I wrote about it in my memoir – – one of my favorite memories of my childhood. Gives a whole new thought pattern on the emerald city.
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One again you deliver a poem of incredible craftsmanship, this time with a fascinating history. I can just see those Schnoodles, however, cocking their heads to one side, saying in unison: “Whaddya mean, graham crackers weren’t invented to feed Us?” I can imagine each using the royal “We” as well! So fun and so captivating, Kim.
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Fran, thanks so much! They go around like they need a little trio of kingly crowns.
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I enjoyed your lovel, entertaining and informative post on graham crackers and your fun family routine. It was good to meet you last night. Thank you for this piece as I adjust to the time change this morning in school. Have a gentle day.
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Thank you, Joanne, I love having faces to go with names. It was great meeting you too!
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I laughed out loud at your words “who baked them to dissuade physical affection” and thought that Reverend is no fun at all. Your poem was wonderful!! Thanks for making me smile.
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Maureen, I laugh too, thinking of the absurdity that a graham cracker could have that kind of power and how all of this thinking was explained. Thanks for reading today!
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Kim, wow, who would have ever thought a graham cracker was created to save one from evil intentions or desires…? Love the photo of your fur babies being fed and very fun poem, too!
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Thank you, Barb!
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I was familiar with the origin of graham crackers, having read an article about them years ago. You have such effective ways of finding inspiration–and inspired products that come out of it.
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Hahaha! What a surprising topic for a slice and a poem and even a doggy treat. The last line on your poem really made me laugh. Who would have guessed that is how graham cracker were founded?
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