Richard Garcia's Porridge is a fractious mash-up of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, cartoons, games, dances, popular songs and the Bible-with an occasional nod to the greatest hits of English literature. Imagine Shakespeare, Walt Disney and the Brothers Grimm on a road trip, and you'll have an idea of the invention, wit, and virtuosity of this mesmerizing collection of prose poems. Garcia's quirky fables are by turns playful, humorous, and haunting, and Garcia guides us through his dream-like evocations with wonder, charity and aplomb. -Gary Young, author of Even So: New & Selected Poems