Just when you thought mangoes could get you the sweetest deals in town, Zak the Baker is once again accepting poetry as payment for the fourth annual “Poems for Bread” trade! The kosher bakery in Wynwood is known to exchange fresh bread for original poetry during this time of year, in partnership with local arts nonprofit O, Miami.
Beginning October 1, anyone who writes a handwritten haiku about “Miami food” will score the free loaf. The prompts ask you to dig deep into your culinary memories: What is Miami’s food culture? What spices go into your family’s horchata or coquito? Are there olives in the picadillo? Whose hands shape the arepas and pinch the empanadas closed?
How the Poems for Bread trade works
If you’d like to participate, poems must be written at the bakery on O, Miami prompt cards and handed in during opening hours: Sunday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the bakery will be closed on Sunday, October 4).
A few rules to know before you go:
- Your poem must be a traditional haiku (a three-line, 5-7-5 syllable structure).
- The offer is limited to one trade per person, per day.
- You can choose any fresh bread in the house, with the exception of braided challah (while supplies last).
At the end of the exchange, which concludes on October 31, one standout poet will be selected to win free bread for an entire year!
More from O, Miami
The O, Miami team will be at the bakery on the morning of October 1 to kick off the trade, and everyone is welcome to stop by. The organization is also taking project proposals for its 16th annual Poetry Festival, which is planned for next April. Submissions are free and open to all.
To learn more, visit their website. You can drop by Zak the Baker at 295 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127.
