Today’s writing inspiration comes from Kimberly Johnson, Ed.D. She is a literacy coach and media specialist in a public school in rural Georgia. She enjoys writing as a guest blogger for www.writerswhocare.com and counts down the days between monthly 5-Day Writing Challenges. She is the author of Father, Forgive Me: Confessions of a Southern Baptist Preacher’s Kid. Follow her on Twitter at @kimjohnson66.
Inspiration
Frank O’Hara was known for writing poems on his lunch break and became famous for his “Lunch Poems.” His “Lines for the Fortune Cookies” contains inspiring prophesies, thought-provoking questions, and humorous scenarios.
Process
Write your own “Lines for the Fortune Cookies” poem today. Your audience can be anyone – the general population, a tourist, a family member, or even (dun-dun-dun) an ex! Spice it up!
Kim’s Poem
(I asked a Curriculum Coordinator, Administrator, and former student to collaborate with me on this composition):
Fortunes for Eclectic Diners
Your crow’s feet will up and fly away, oh glory, never to return!
Be on the lookout for hidden treasure – there is toilet paper still to be discovered.
Believe that you really are the love of someone’s life.
Tomorrow your life will never be the same.
Flowers bend toward you because you are as bright as the sun.
Act strategically. What if this is the rapture?
To make a tissue dance, put a little boogie in it!
Life is full of cheesy twists.
You will lose 5 pounds tonight as you undress for bed.
Cheers! Your chances of inheriting a Chihuahua rescue farm are ever-changing.
You are the Lord of the Dance that no one is watching.
That cookie you just cracked was the presumptive cure for all disease if left intact.
Never forget: Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana!
Check your messages. Your ex and the new flame will soon need bail money in Mexico.
Be eccentric. Eat more kale.
Amazon welcomes you like family!
–Collaboratively written by Dawn Lanca, Carrie Dawson, Nolan Riggins, and Kim Johnson
Write
Your Turn
Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own poem. (This is a public space, so you may use only your first name or initials depending on your privacy preferences.) Not ready? That’s okay. Read the poems already posted for more inspiration. Ponder your own throughout the day. Return later. And, if the prompt does not work for you, that is fine. All writing is welcome. Just write something. Also, please be sure to respond to at least three writers. Oh, and a note about drafting: Since we are writing in short bursts, we all understand (and even welcome) the typos and partial poems that remind us we are human and that writing is always becoming. If you’d like to invite other teachers to write with us, tell them to subscribe.
Fortune Cookie For a Little Brown Girl
Do not let their looks make you feel small.
The way others treat you will reflect on their character.
You are not less worthy than them.
Do not listen to what they say about your people.
Be proud of your culture.
Your brown does not make you dirty.
Do not let them discourage you.
Your language is part of who you are.
Do not let them silence you.
Speak your language with pride,
because so many have come before and fought for that right.
Be loud and speak with purpose.
Do not shout into the void.
Giving them hate back does not make you any better.
Do not become bitter.
Understand that you are not alone.
Look to guidance from your elders,
they have gone through this too.
Go forth and be amazing,
little brown girl!
Fortune Cookie, AR
The smell of pipe tobacco will attach itself to your marriage like silver wedding bands.
You will have five fantastic children – all boys.
Your last two children will be identical twins, born 20 years after your firstborn.
You will play piano with angelic grace.
Home is where the heart is, temporarily; moving is pertinent, consistently; and so you shall.
There’s a hole in the bucket, dear Margaret, dear Margaret.
Your laugh will sound like sandpaper, even after you quit smoking.
Your smile will still be as lovely as leaves fluttering softly in a summer breeze.
One day, your son and his family will arrive to your house with locked doors, and they will wait and wait and wait, and where are you anyway?
You will live in a town with a small shoe store run by a nice smiling gray haired man (who has likely passed away).
You won’t go to Pizza Hut, but your grandchildren will pass by it, longing for the thick greasy scent floating in the hot southern air.
You will put bacon in green beans, even though your grandson is a vegetarian, and then you’ll laugh and tell him that it’s a vegetable.
You will, tragically, outlive one of your sons.
Your eulogy will include a part about how much pride you had in your musical grandson, pride that you apparently would not or could not express to him, but had no problem sharing with the good people at church.
Your grandson will always wonder about the validity of this.
Your husband will be passed off between your boys, living with one, then another, then another, watching golf and baseball until his timely demise at the age of 90 or something.
Your husband’s death will be treated the same as if you were just flipping through the obituaries and saw a name that looked vaguely familiar and you thought, “Huh…” and then you flipped the page and started thinking about the Sports section instead.
And then again, several of your grandchildren probably will have the thought, “Grandpa was still alive?”
Alex,
this is great! The lines that spoke to me most were “You will put bacon in green beans, even though your grandson is a vegetarian, and then you’ll laugh and tell him that it’s a vegetable.
You will, tragically, outlive one of your sons.” The first line because I like the humor in it and the second because it is so real and raw!
Fortune Cookie Sayings: To a Lonely Soul
You are not alone
You don’t have to go through life on your own
Life is short to walk around feeling blue
Don’t fret; soon you’ll know what to do
Eat healthy, live longer
Exercise, become stronger
The greater the rewards, the harder the work seems
Never, ever, give up on you dreams
Before things get better you must go through hell
Be of good cheer, all will be well
Give ‘til it hurts, your reward will be double
Lean on a friend in time of trouble
Sing, dance, rejoice, take heed
You have everything that you need
Fire burns, but, salve eases pain
Flowers need sunshine and rain
Never let your pride stand in your way
You will soon see a brighter day
Donna,
I love your fortune cookie sayings for a lonely soul! “Life is short to walk around feeling blue” so true! Thank you for sharing.
Jack Fortune
The right thing turns up when you are ready,
and so you came – the call about the black lab.
Some dogs are meant to roam,
so many mornings filled calling your name.
A watched pot is impossible to watch,
except by the savvy dog with two paws on the table.
A dog belongs to the man,
love and duty fill your eyes, and holds the pitch of your head.
And a man honors his dog,
even when surgery costs mount for an aging canine.
Love between pets honor the home,
after four months when the cat returns, noses touch.
A dog honors the dog who taught him,
months after she was gone, you still sniffed her spot.
The heart is filled with pets,
otherwise why would we continue to fill our homes with more.
Lines for the Fortune Cookies
Follow your dreams until you wake up.
Taking the road less traveled is pretty easy right now.
The glass is always half full until it’s half empty.
We are all in this together, we just can be together.
It’s been a long week. That’s all I got.
Donnetta, Your “all I got” is appreciated aplenty!
I loved “Taking the road less traveled is pretty easy right now” – SO SPOT ON!
and this: “The glass is always half full until it’s half empty.”
Your lines tonight hit home for me. I’m glad you came to the page.
Fortunes for Writers
If you can’t find a word that rhymes, change words.
No writing is ever wasted.
The muse will not show up unless your fingers are on the keyboard.
Most of what you write will not amount to anything.
Do the thing you hate and love.
Happy writers keep their mice in a jar.
It is impossible not to have a thought.
Today you will process your experiences through words.
The delete key is there for a reason.
You don’t have to see the end of the sentence to begin.
Your lucky day: some words will fall into place.
Writing is more about how to live than what to write.
Do not invite doubt to the table.
Nothing is too small to notice.
“It is possible not to have a thought.” What a great line! This poem would make a great gift to students at the beginning of the school year! I really love these musings! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, Allison, what a perfect topic and such wisdom for me as a writer and now, dare I say, poet. Thank you! I had to look up the mice in a jar metaphor, and I think I found it in Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. Is that true? What a great image and something I intend to give some attention to. There is just so much stellar advice here–some of my favorites, beside the mice in a jar are “It is impossible not to have a thought” and “Writing is more about how to live than what to write.” Again, as every day, you all are helping me learn something new every day. I truly am the chief learner!
YES! Mice in the jar is from AL! I think about her advice often. The “It is impossible not to have a thought” is paraphrased from William Stafford’s “A Way of Writing.” THANK YOU, Denise, for showing me how my words are heard. (Yes, POET. We need to demystify these labels. Did you write a poem? You’re a poet. <3)
What really caught my attention was the line “Happy writers keep their mice in a jar.” I’m not quite sure what it means, but the image made me laugh, and it seemed connected to the last line “Nothing is too small to notice.” – I sure noticed those mice in the jar! Thanks!
“Do the thing you hate and love” YES. loved that line! As a young new writer I will try to remember your fortune. Thank you.
Hindsight is Always 20/20
Don’t ignore it when you feel it
Listen to it when it tries to speak
It knows you, it cares
Remember, adults don’t always know better
Making a choice is difficult
Change is inevitable
You do you
Do not neglect your intuition
Put yourself first
Loving yourself is easier said than done
You cannot love another if you don’t love yourself
Happiness is a state of mind
Crying cleanses the soul
Struggles make you stronger
Time does not wait
Can I have a do-over?
Monica, that title! Oh, what any of us would give to have 20/20 hindsight with some do-over opportunities! I love the line “You do you” best of all – – when it comes down to it, that’s the best advice we can give others is the gift of loving them as they are. Imagine that veil that would be lifted in so many of our students if they felt they had that freedom!
Fortunes for Survivors of Misfortune
By Stacey L. Joy, ©April 17, 2020
For those of us who have survived abuse
Survivors of abuse have an automatic angel of protection installed in every scar
When you can’t sleep, the angels are busy around you
Your abuser never sleeps soundly
Your abuser suffers from IBS and incontinence
Your nightmares mirror your abuser’s reality
Your abuser has no friends, no joy, and no money
If your abuser is your spouse, leave now, don’t look back, and take your kids with you
If your abuser is your lover, love yourself more and leave now
If your abuser was a stranger, your abuser is now insane
As a survivor, your eyes will catch eyes of other survivors
As a survivor, you will tell your story to save the next survivor
As a survivor, silence is shaming, sharing is empowering
Each tear you ever cried was collected in God’s palms
God releases 100-fold blessings for each tear you’ve shed
Don’t fear being abused again, all abusers are afraid of you
Don’t fear falling in love again, but fall in love with yourself and God first.
Well, Stacey, this is, indeed, a fortune in wisdom…raw and real wisdom. Your awareness that the abusers are screwed up in so many ways was somehow satisfying to me… that rat-b’ard “suffers from IBS and incontinence” and “no friends, no joy, and no money” is surely the case. The cautions to leave and don’t look back are words that anyone being abused needs to see over and over… it takes some muscle to do, but do it. Two things really drove this home for me: the “silencers shaming” — never saying anything, holding that inside is like drinking poison. And second, “abusers are afraid of you.” I truly believe that…and just knowing that gives strength. A beautiful image is that of tears “collected in God’s palms.” Lovely. It’s important to have your voice here, especially as we follow news that says the spike in domestic abuse is exploding right now, as if the virus itself weren’t enough to break the backs of humanity. Finally, Stacey, I am so sorry that anyone ever hurt you. Your writing is so strong, that strong voice is undeniable, and I can’t help but think that the beauty in that voice has ripped the power from that rotten abusing ass. You are an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing, my friend. Susie
Stacey,
Your pain is undeserved and unfortunate – and leaves us outraged, but your tone is empowering and victorious. Your form with repeating lines in sections gives readers a hearing strategy that weights every one of your words. I think of these lines:
As a survivor, you will tell your story to save the next survivor
As a survivor, silence is shaming, sharing is empowering
I’m sad that you had to endure this, but I’m thankful that you use your powerful voice and loving arms and inner WOMAN strength to let other women know that there IS wonderful life beyond this horrific trench. And that is one of your greatest strengths as a writer is getting into the hearts of all of us who need to hear your triumphant voice!
Oh, my dear, Stacey. What a list of fortunes for survivors.
My absolute favorite is “Each tear you ever cried was collected in God’s palms.” I picture God’s hands held out gently cupped together to make them larger for those with too many tears. It is a personal, comforting metaphor and I thank you for it today. It is Psalm 56:8 written in the SLJ version.
Beautiful and helpful poem today.
To My Dearest Daughter,
College online means indulging in
homemade lasagna every day if you’d like,
no skimping on the mozzarella cheese, baby!
and there’s copious amounts of red wine, the kind you
can’t afford at school, not
that I’m encouraging excessive drinking, but still …
It’s more satisfying to drink with family
Remember, this too shall pass
No, you aren’t in Kansas anymore, but
pancakes taste better with chocolate chips, you’re
welcome, there’s a can of whipped cream in the fridge,
no judgement here
Look on the brightside,
there’s a gassed car in the garage and
the keys are right where you left them
Never fear, where ever you go, that’s where you are,
because there’s no place like home.
Tammi—the rhythms in your poem are wonderful-they speed up and slow down, pulling me into your conversation. My favorite part-not that I’m encouraging excessive drinking, but still…. that was so real, and it made me chuckle. Thank you for the breath of fresh parental air!
Tammi,
Tender words of wisdom from a loving mother. Those chocolate chip pancakes would be amazing about now…….since that may be the only thing I haven’t eaten recently. I hope you share these sweet words with your daughter. Thank you for sharing!
Tammi, it sounds like you are spoiling her and giving her lifelong memories of joy, hope, family-building. Even if right now it is difficult for her, this will be the most memorable semester of college, and she will have a lifetime of stories to share with future generations. So many bright sides here. What a way to go to college. Family is home, and the best place to eat lasagna, drink red wine, chocolate chip pancakes and all the other love gifts you have planned.
Fortune Cookies for the Skeptic
Tomorrow will be sunny and bright, or not.
Every cloud has a silver lining, literally.
The check is in the mail! J/K
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but only the organic ones – apples, not doctors.
Ignore that email from Bandsintown, nobody’s coming.
Life hack: I’ve got nothing.
Try a new art form: black velvet painting!
The next cookie has a better fortune! Promise!
Shaun, this is a fun twist – – Fortune Cookies for the Skeptic! I love the title! And that last line is ALWAYS true…..the black velvet painting leaves a classic image. I’m seeing Elvis!
This is great! Thanks for the laugh! I especially liked the Bandsintown line and apple a day lines.
LOL on this poem today! I love it!
Best part: Life hack: I’ve got nothing.
I’ve always hated those stupid life hack posts on social media. Hack this!
Thank you for the laughs! I needed it.
Dear Lucky You,
Today will suck
The online order you placed yesterday
Will need to be picked up in the state of Washington
No worries that you live in Iowa
You’ve always wanted to head West
Surely, this mistake is an answer to your prayers
Honestly, it may take less long to travel cross country
Than to have the situation resolved while
Being tortured by
Mind-numbing piped music
Longing for a human voice
Your phone will blow up with
Messages about school’s permanent closure
Disappointments abound…
And oh by the way,
After 40 years of teaching
No retirement party for you
No senior send off
No farewell salutes
Yes, today will suck
And consequently,
You’re sure to overeat because
Snow on the ground in April
Most likely means you’ll never hit the beach
Besides, life’s disappointments are better served up sweet
Sincerely,
You’re lucky day, indeed!
Barb Edler
April 17, 2020
You capture the spirit of the times. If the reference to not having a retirement party is autobiographical, I am sorry. Congratulations on a reaching a milestone!
I love the frankness and truth to this piece. You’ve said what we all secretly think on those shitty days which we’ve all had. Lately, it does seem like there’s more of them. “Snow on the ground in April” definitely does suck. Thanks for sharing this. Congratulations on your retirement!
Barb, this line: “disappointments abound…….. ” sums so much of our lives up right now. There is so much that we are all missing, and the smile is upside-down whether watching the news or not. My favorite line is: ” Honestly, it may take less long to travel cross country” I don’t know that line stands out for me so boldly, but it grabbed me. Almost like “if you want something done right and on time, do it yourself.” I’m so sorry that the retirement sendoff won’t come with a farewell salute, but maybe many of our events can merely be postponed instead of cancelled. I hope so!
“Fortune from Magnolia Cafe (1979-2020)”
A foolish woman does not end her night out at Magnolia.
She who hosts the late-night shift sees all.
Your road to glory will be rocky and full of spilled drink trays.
Hibiscus mint tea is your ally at the moment. Don’t worry!
You can always find happiness at the bottom of a bowl of queso.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the breakfast tacos.
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the server who takes a Saturday late shift.
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the fifth cup of coffee at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday.
Nothing is impossible when you start your meal with buttermilk pancakes.
You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is a T.Rex omelette.
Nothing is so much to be feared as a twelve-top at 11 a.m. on a Sunday–except for one at 2:30 a.m.
You will always be treated with a jalapeño cornmeal pancake with your bowl of black beans.
All things are difficult before 5 a.m.
The real kindness comes from your friendly regulars and the dishwasher.
If you look back, you will run into a hot plate of Sonora enchiladas.
To avoid criticism: don’t spill the drinks, don’t forget the salsa, roll more silver.
He who throws Mag Mud loses ground.
If you want the rainbow, you have to visit 2304 Lake Austin Boulevard.
All you need is Love Migas.
Laura, I sense a strong voice of experience from this Magnolia Cafe. I love these lines in particular:
You can always find happiness at the bottom of a bowl of queso.
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the fifth cup of coffee at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday.
You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is a T Rex omelette.
Although I have never been to this cafe, you have taken me there today, and I love this spirited place!
Laura, I love the specific details of the cafe; the visuals are so strong. I laughed at finding happiness at the bottom of a bowl of queso –so relatable! The loving message at the end is a fantastic close
This poem has such a great sense of place. I your descriptions were so rich. I was right there with you at the Magnolia.
“If you look back, you will run into a hot plate of Sonora enchiladas./To avoid criticism: don’t spill the drinks, don’t forget the salsa, roll more silver.” –While I never served a late night shift, I did do some serving when I was in college and this totally brought me back there.
Love it – you should share with them – a nice commemorative, Lou.
Three Fortunes for the Fortunate
Tear open those cookies
lean back, suck it in —
your lucky day just came with a spin.
Number One:
Today is your day to give it all back …
Mr. Bezos, you’ll shed Amazonian greed,
fill millions and billions of carts with TP
and PPE, all free globally,
no delivery fee.
Number Two:
Today is your day to return the favors …
Goldman Sachs will rehire moochin’ Mnuchin,
charge him the task and sign the waiver:
return the ten billion bucks
pay it forward to schools;
no more pay hikes for Wall Street,
‘cause really, that sucks.
Number Three:
Today is your day to bring it back home…
Bank of America, live up to your name,
back to the country you’ll return all the dollars
close offshore accounts, return billions to scholars
all of those taxes that you never paid
will fund vaccines, cures, new medicines made.
You’re the tip of the iceberg, that fraction percent,
I could go on and on and voice my dissent,
it just helped to imagine in some small way today
that fortunes in cookies could whisk greed away.
by Susie Morice©
Susie, what a way to put a spin on the cookie and let the fortune be for others! And you did it with rhyme scheme! I hear Seussian humanitarianism coursing through the veins of this poem, and it puts a smile on my face and love in my heart! This is golden! Let’s serve up the cookies!
Susie,
If I were to pray, to wish upon a Star, or to hope in a more just America, I’d put my dreams and wishes in these three prophecies. Love the final four lines and the heartbeat-like rhythm captured in the rhyme. Your poem reminds me of a book a read a couple weeks ago; “Goliath” is all about the undermining of antitrust laws that created the current monopolies that are the subject of your poem. Thank you.
—Glenda
Susie, I think you should send this to an editorial page. Wow! The message is incredible and to put this so smoothly together, AND RHYME! This poem really carries a punch! I hope more will be reading this! Awesome!
I agree with Barb. Send this one out!
Well said! Loved the fact that this piece had so much rhythm and packed so much punch into that little fortune cookie!
Susie, the format you chose is so clever. Love the focus on 1-3! But man oh man do I love the B of A stanza. I have a friend who almost lost her home behind a shady modification from them. Thankfully, that’s behind her now.
The end is what I felt the most because I am really praying this nightmare virus ends with a world in a position to be generous and kind. I love it!
“It just helped to imagine in some small way today
that fortunes in cookies could whisk greed away.“
I need to start eating fortune cookies, well if the world ever allows us that small treat again.
❤️Thanks Susie
Relationship Fortune
Patience is a virtue
Act with fair intent
Never go to bed angry
When given the chance, repent
See the world from a new perspective
Walk a day in someone’s shoes
You will find everlasting happiness, but only if you choose
Choose the path of empathy
Take adversity in stride
Soon you will feel endless joy
You must put aside your pride
Be a guiding light to others
Follow the light to where it leads
You will have your wishes granted
You will fulfill a person’s needs
A bitter fruit is seldom picked
The storm must end before there’s sun
Hold a hand and not a grudge
Let them know that they’re the one.
2 4 8 12 28 16
Ann, these are strong guiding words for all of us! “You will find everlasting happiness, but only if you choose” and “hold a hand and not a grudge” are my two favorite lines. I’m curious about your numbers – – I can’t figure them out. I do so love a mystery and something that leaves me thinking! UPDATE: I figured it out…..the lottery numbers….. 🙂
Ann, what a clever poem! All of these sentiments work so well together. I honestly had to think a bit about your end, and then when it hit me like a light bulb, I had a great laugh. Very fun poem!
There is so much hope and positivity in this poem. Love it! “Be a guiding light to others” is such a wonderful message. “Walk a day in someone’s shoes” — what a great reference to my favorite book.
So many wise saying; you should write for the fortune cookie companies! I, especially, love the phrases, “The storm must end before there’s sun. ” And, “Hold a hand and not a grudge”. We need that advice right now. Being in close quarters with family or friends for so long can cause tension. We need to be patient and kind to get through it in one piece. Thanks!
This is such a good collection of fortune cookie messages topped off with the “lucky numbers.”
Isn’t “fortune cookie” an oxymoron?
Shouldn’t you have to work hard
And experience some discomfort to
get to the message in a fortune cookie?
Really, the fortune cookie could learn
A lesson from the Atomic Fireball
With its fire-hot cinnamon exterior and
Its seemingly everlasting sweet interior.
Katrina, I didn’t expect to see Atomic Fireballs giving fortune cookies lessons in work ethic today – – what a delightful twist on the thinking and a cute image of a cookie talking to a piece of candy! You spiced it up!
This is terrific! What a sweet comparison. I don’t think I’ll ever think of fortune cookies (or atomic fireballs) in quite the same way! I love the way you posed questions in the beginning. I wasn’t sure where the poem was going – but the twist at the end was so satisfying.
Kim,
Your inspirations have sure been fun. And, challenging. I have really struggled with both. I’m sorry for the lame contributions.
Is This My Fortune? Thoughts of a New Teacher
PJs and sweats are your new wardrobe.
Wearing make-up is not for you.
A ponytail is your best hairstyle.
You will move from couch to counter to recliner multiple times per day.
Flipgrid is your favorite app.
You will Zoom with your faculty, your department, and your classes.
You forget that people can see your eyerolls and hear your heavy sighs.
Your needy students will find any reason to contact you.
No matter how clear instructions are, multiple students will screw it up.
Your back and butt will hurt from sitting much of the day.
Recording yourself used to feel awkward and now it’s normal.
This is what you signed up for.
Susan, NO WAY is your writing lame – it’s real and sincere – and so true. I love every word in all of the different perspectives that are shared in our group. These words for new teachers are the reality – – I love these lines the best:
You forget that people can see your eyerolls and hear your heavy sighs.
Your needy students will find any reason to contact you.
This is what you signed up for.
That last line – – we signed up to make a difference – – and that’s what we do every day! Cheers to you!
Susan,
There’s a restless quality to your poem that resonates w/ me. It’s captured best in the lines “You will move from couch to counter to recliner multiple times per day.” I’ve thought a lot about new teachers the past month and imagined how difficult this must all be for them. Circumstances really cheat them of the opportunity to bond w/ their colleagues. I love that you inject a little levity into the online teaching experience w/ your eye roll line. Thank you.
—Glenda
Confucius Fortunes Confusing or Fortuitous
Confucius says
You know things
Many things that you don’t understand
or why you know them
or how you know them.
You stopped wondering why
You just live with it
Except, every once in a while you share the news:
A pregnancy just found out.
A bow kill is hiding under the dark evergreens.
He wasn’t driving the car, his friend was.
Those things
Random weird things
Confucius says
You have a ghost
It lives with you and has for a long time
You mention it to others
Until you don’t.
Because they don’t understand
or don’t believe
And why try to enlighten them?
There’s nothing for them to glean
If they don’t see
What you see
All around them
Through them
In them
You know evil when you’re near it
No matter how nice it’s disguised.
You know unbearable pain by simply breathing the same air they breathe.
You know a liar and a thief by the way they stand.
And you knew true love the moment you saw him.
The exact moment you saw him.
But you couldn’t tell him then.
Because you see things.
You’ve always seen things.
You’ll see it all
Until the very end.
Renee, the feeling of a sixth sense is strong and powerful in your poem. I love this: you know evil when you’re near it no matter how nice it’s disguised. The truth is the truth is the truth. I can’t imagine how frustrating at times it must be for those who have this sense to be functioning in our world right now. Even those of us without a sixth sense would mostly agree that the struggle is real….. 🙂
Renee,
I love the way you’ve constructed each prophecy so that each is more philosophical w/ the first having an inherent paradox. Each also builds to a climax as though to emphasize the revelatory thought.
—Glenda
Fortunes for My Sister, Dr. Tsai
Believe that this too shall pass.
Order in tonight, you deserve it.
Always add guacamole for extra charge – worth it.
Life is full of challenges, you got this.
You are an amazing doctor, but an even more awesome sister.
Don’t worry, your patients can feel your kindness from just your eyes.
Be on the look out for care packages.
May your coffee be as strong as your gown and mask today.
Never forget: you were born for this.
Self care. Do it. I don’t mean yoga – I mean cookies.
You are a hero – and not just to me.
Emily,
I so appreciate the contrast of the formal first line, drawing on tradition, with the daily imagery of guacamole and yoga. Hero! Indeed.
Sarah
I hope you slip this poem into the care package – what a lovely tribute to your sister, a hero for all of us! May she stay strong and healthy.
Emily, this is heartfelt! I love that last line: you are a hero – and not just to me. Bless your sister for her sacrifice of care for those she doesn’t even know! I hope that you share this with her and give her hugs from all of us in this group who are cheering for all those on the front lines!
Emily — Oh, this is just so what needed to get said… Please share with your sister that I, too, send her the “Fortunes” for all that she is enduring. I love especially that you acknowledge your sister’s strength…”you were born for this.” Oh wow, if anyone can ever be born for this… thank heavens for your sister. And you! Susie
Emily,
I love this tribute to your sister, the doctor, a hero. Give her my gratitude and blessing. I love this image of a doctor’s eyes peering over the mask: “Don’t worry, your patients can feel your kindness from just your eyes.” Love the levity in the self-care line. “Self care. Do it. I don’t mean yoga – I mean cookies.” Thank you.
—Glenda
Emily,
While concise, this poem incited a range of emotions: I teared up, I left, I felt the pride that you feel. I especially love your push for guacamole and cookies and the line “Don’t worry, your patients can feel your kindness from just your eyes.” Thanks for sharing!
Thank God for your sister and her fellow Front-Liners!
Wow Emily. I have so much gratitude for those who are doing the work for those who are in the vices of the crisis.
Thank you for this heart-felt poem. Please share it with her. I’ll keep her in my prayers.
This is deep!
“your patients can feel your kindness from just your eyes.“
Never thought about how hard it is to show complete compassion behind a mask.
Hugs. Thank you and tell your Shero Sister Doctor I’m praying for her!
What an inspiring message for all medical care givers, today! But, I love that it is from one sister to another. She is a blessed woman, doctor and sister to have a sister like you in her corner. I found the line, ” Don’t worry, your patients can FEEL your kindness from just your eyes.” It shows that you know, first hand, how she can convey her feelings and concerns, silently. Thank you.
I’m a little later posting today because I decided to create a found poem since fortunes are basically found items. I asked my students to write fortunes this morning, and I “found” this poem from them.
Fortunes in the Time of Covid-19, Reflections from Junior High Students
At least one of your students will greet you today.
I predict I will eat ice cream after dinner.
Be sure to include an online trainer to your Christmas list this year.
Over the next two weeks people will ignore the Governor’s stay home orders.
They will say that she’s insane and women like her shouldn’t be involved in the government.
Other countries will provide healthcare and experience a decrease in cases, but not the US.
Many people will go out so the economy doesn’t fail, but it will still happen
Others will see the United States as a failing country and lose respect.
If the virus doesn’t hurt us, global warming will.
The younger generations will see what a mess those who say “it won’t affect me” have made.
More young voices will speak out trying to save our planet from war and destruction.
Kids who are supposed to be having a childhood and learning will be the ones to do their best to save us all from our own mess. Unless we make a difference.
All things are difficult before they are easy.
Today there is a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over us, but in two weeks’ time the sun will shine through and we will have our answers.
Jennifer,
While the overall tone is serious and important, you give our hearts some respite with your humor and honesty in this line, “Be sure to include an online trainer to your Christmas list this year..” And your final word, “answers.” Offers hope. Hugs.
Sarah
The lines are directly from the students without editing, so this truly reflects that their thoughts are pre-occupied by what we also worry over. The hope, honesty, and humor is all theirs too.
To know that your junior high students were the source of these fortunes, is to know that our world will be well. We are in great hands – they are already thinking for us. Thank you for these, so insightful. “The younger generations will see what a mess those who say ‘it won’t affect me’ have made” is truly poignant – the kids see beyond their noses, whereas we adults are strangely self-focused.
This is so creative! And these kids are so insightful. It was fun to see what they’re thinking about. It’s interesting how some are so simple (“I predict I will eat ice cream after dinner”) and others are so serious and even gloomy (“Others will see the United States as a failing country and lose respect.”) Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer, I love the crowdsourced approach to these fortunes. The collective voice gives a broader range of wisdom – and look at these spectacular lines:
Other countries will provide healthcare and experience a decrease in cases, but not the US.
Others will see the US as a failing country and lose respect.
If the virus doesn’t hurt us, global warming will.
More young voices will speak out…..
I know you are proud of your students – – these are telling insights about the junior high perspective on our world right now, and what a beautiful primary source document to preserve on this date, 4/17/2020, from Lansing, Michigan.
Jennifer — It seems on target to experience the up and down of the “fortunes” here. The inevitable…those foolish choices (ignoring the stay home orders) and the loss of our American status even more now and the impact of global warming… those critical low points really just make me so sad, but you handle them with a juxtaposition of young people who give us hope. “the ones to do their best to save us all from our own/mess.” Oh heavens… like with the Parkland kids, I really do believe in the kids…more than anybody else. Thank you for this archive of April 17, 2020’s mindset. This matters! Susie
Jennifer,
I’m so impressed by the collective wisdom your students demonstrate. I’m sending them a big WOW! ? Amazing job. This line is something I think we’re witnessing: “Others will see the United States as a failing country and lose respect.” That your young students recognize this is both heartbreaking and wise. Kids are so dang smart, much smarter than that dumb old fart in the White House. Bravo. Thank you.
—Glenda
A FORTUNE COOKIE FOUND POEM*
The fortune you seek is in another cookie.
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.
A cynic is only a frustrated optimist.
A foolish man listens to his heart. A wise man listens to cookies.
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind, and won’t change the subject.
If you look back, you’ll soon be going that way.
Do not mistake temptation for opportunity.
He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.
He who laughs last is laughing at you.
He who throws dirt is losing ground.
Some men dream of fortunes, others dream of cookies.
We don’t know the future, but here’s a cookie.
The world may be your oyster, but it doesn’t mean you’ll get its pearl.
Actions speak louder than fortune cookies.
Don’t behave with cold manners.
I am worth a fortune.
No snowflake feels responsible in an avalanche.
Don’t let statistics do a number on you.
Ask your mom instead of a cookie.
This cookie contains 117 calories.
Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is it naked or homeless?
Change is inevitable, except for vending machines.
*FORTUNE COOKIE LINES SELECTED FROM https://quotes.yourdictionary.com/articles/funny-fortune-cookie-sayings.html
Anna, this “found cookie” is delicious! That first line is my favorite: the fortune you seek is in another cookie. That’s ALWAYS the way it is at my table. Someone else gets my fortune. I also love “we don’t know the future, but here’s a cookie,” and “no snowflake feels responsible in an avalanche.” That is deep, deep, deep there. All of these lines you selected are simply perfect today!
My favorite—Actions speak louder than fortune cookies!!
Nice mash-up of fortunes; the unexpected causes delight. There are so many that brought a smile – He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.
He who laughs last is laughing at you.
thank you for the smile
Anna, these “fortunes” made me laugh, but, they are full of wisdom! I loved the line “Do not mistake temptation for opportunity”. So, many make that mistake in life and live to regret it! Thanks for your insights!
I think you are wonderful and so will your students.
You will think about students in the characters you read, and be better for that. You will
learn not to hover over writers, but sit alongside them and ask questions. You will see
yourself as just another reader and author-to-be humbly doing your thing. In the beginning
you will say MY — there will always be a sense of possession, I guess. You will later utter
OUR, understanding responsibility for and love of is shared, reciprocity is key not ownership.
You will write thank you emails and apology sticky notes, accepting both as human.
A few times (okay, a lot) you will say “yes” when you should say “no.” Scoring wrestling
matches, supervising dances, social committee cake-maker, does it become you? You should
wear a smile even when you want to glare, and don’t wait until Thanksgiving. And yes, you
did wear two different shoes today — one is brown, the other black. Some sweet student
will tell you in a whisper that you have a hole in your pants, but another will call you out–
own it. At times (okay, a lot) you will be sick with Imposter Syndrome, there is medicine
that will silence the whispers of doubt. It’s called Being Present. And you will make
excuses for not having time to write, “there’s no time to read either.” You will forget
how crafting a poem made you feel a sense of self, how a story moved your heart and
mind to imagine how the world ought to be. But you will come back — here–
and you will find your reasons once again.
You are wonderful, don’t you see?
(Okay, so maybe not all your students will think so.)
There’s such hope here. I love that. And need it. Thank you for sharing these beautiful lines with us today:
You will think about students in the characters you read…
You will later utter OUR, understanding responsibility for and love of is shared…
Some sweet student will tell you in a whisper…
There is medicine that will silence the whispers of doubt…
You will come back – here- and you will find your reasons once again…
You are wonderful, don’t you see (Yes, you are, Sarah!)
Sarah, I love the format of this and every single encouraging word. I can see new teachers printing this taping it to the inside of a cabinet for “those days.” I think the thought that really resonates with me is:
“there is medicine that will silence the whispers of doubt. It’s called Being Present.” That is so powerful for new and veteran teachers to hear, because the doubts never stop – no matter the years of experience or the level of mastery of content teaching. Thank you for such beautiful words of encouragement!
Sarah,
This captures the beauty and heartache of teaching in all its myriad paradoxes, from learning to sit w/ student writers rather than dictating to them to the embarrassment of clothing malfunctions and those students who graciously spare ya embarrassment. This is all the stuff of teaching, the things we love even when they make us feel vulnerable and exposed. Aren’t we all a mix of the imposter and the authentic on this teeter-tottering career. Love this. Thank you.
—Glenda
Sarah—I wish someone had shared these fortunes with me all those years ago when I started. The hope, the realism, the love, the everything. My favorite line, I think, is” there is medicine that will silence the whispers of doubt. It’s called Being Present. I would add to that—time. So many truths here. (And I did go to school with two different shoes on—another truth)
I decided to write fortunes for preschoolers, since this is a perspective I know well and am missing.
Preschool Fortunes
1. If you have cardboard, you have the world.
2. An hour playing with blocks is a minute, a minute in tantrum is an hour.
3. Small hops can take you far, unless you are in a box.
4. One who floats teacups in the toilet shows great imagination.
5. To eat with fork is divine, to eat while holding fork in toes is sublime.
6. Routines are made to be broken.
7. To use the bathroom, the only time better than now is five minutes ago.
8. It is always a good time to take one’s shoes off.
9. If someone has what you want, grab it and run.
10. That puddle on the far side of the road wants you to jump in and stomp.
11. You have been told that before.
12. To be curious is to have the bead up your nose.
13. Monsters cannot talk but they are everywhere.
14. If you are wearing your finest, it is time to paint.
15. There is a time to talk and a time to be quiet; you will talk at all times.
16. To wipe the spill from a small cup of water requires 1000 paper towels.
17. If at first you don’t succeed, ask again, ask again, ask again.
Oh, Maureen, this is just too much love and fun and sweetness rolled into a lot of fortunes for preschoolers. Some favorites: “To use the bathroom, the only time better than now is five minutes ago.” and “If someone has what you want, grab it and run” made me guffaw!
The last three just made me long to be in a room full of preschoolers enjoying this chaotic scene–the talking, the spilling and the ask-ask-asking. Well done!
Maureen, this poem was such a joy! I giggled at each line. Such wisdom (and chaos) from the lives of preschoolers. Your poem reminds me of the Tao of Pooh …how we can learn so much about life and ourselves from the microcosm of our classroom. Thank you for sharing your piece with us!
I am loving every line of this, every word of it. I most especially love the first one – it is truly everything And #9 made me laugh aloud. My son stuck a small green bead the size of a pea up his nose and now I know why!
Maureen, I am in love with these fortunes! Reminiscent of Robert Fulghum – – I love 4, 7, 9, and 12 the very best. It would be SO nice if the monsters in OUR world didn’t talk! These are priceless pearls of wisdom gleaned from astute observations! This would be a perfect Open House poster :). Thank you for putting a smile in my heart today.
Oh, my, I love these! The voice of the pre-k teacher with all of her fine patience comes through. Ask again, ask again, ask again…
Maureen — This is absolutely wonderful! It screams little kids! SOOOOO FUN! The voice that conveys that adult amusement in all the screwy things that little kids do and think about is priceless here. I loved every one of these — seriously, you should send this somewhere for publication… I have no idea where, but a children’s/parents’ magazine or NCTE’s journal, Language Arts … get this baby out there! My favorites: To be curious is to have the bead up your nose. If you are wearing your finest, it is time to paint. One who floats teacups in the toilet shows great imagination. — but I loved every single one. Thanks, Susie
Maureen,
OMG this is amazing, amazing, amazing. I laughed at the philosophical tone that underpins the humor. I have so many favorites:
“An hour playing with blocks is a minute, a minute in tantrum is an hour.” Time both crawls and flies, yes?
“ One who floats teacups in the toilet shows great imagination.” ? Thought I might have an accident reading that one.
#5 reminded me of a student I taught years ago. She was in a wheelchair and held a pen in her left foot to write. She’s the only student I ever let kick me. I had her in English and in debate. A couple months into the school year she died in a car accident. That broke my heart. I loved her so much.
#7 surely must be informed by a need to always have spare clothing at school. LOL! Students’ needs change over the years. I kept tampons and deodorant on hand for students.
Love the personification of the puddle in #10
#12 “To be curious is to have the bead up your nose.“ Ouch! ?
Thank you!
—Glenda
This is great! So many great images most of us are familiar with, and still relate to as adults! I’ve seen #9 a few times during this little recess we’ve been having.
OK, Maureen. We both live in Maryland. When this madness is over, we must have lunch, or a legal beverage, or something. I feel a kindred spirit in you! These fortunes made my heart sing—so lighthearted, so true, and…numbers 7, 11, and 9. Thank you!
Good morning Kim,
Fun prompt again! Thank you for keeping it exciting.
I will post this on my bedroom wall:
“You will lose 5 pounds tonight as you undress for bed.”
My thinking is such that if my cookies and chips are in my robe pockets, and I eat them before getting in bed, technically, I may lose 5 pounds as I undress. hahaha! So funny!
This is lovely! I take pics of flowers while I take my daily walks and felt this line was right for me and all of us who may experience the blahs during quarantine.
“Flowers bend toward you because you are as bright as the sun.” ?
And I’ll end it here because it’s about time to make egg whites with cheese!
“Life is full of cheesy twists.”
Have a sweet and blessed day!?
Lines I wish I’d received in January 2020
Stock up on toilet paper.
Practice not touching your face.
Take your time at the grocery store.
Have dinner at a nice, sit down restaurant.
Go to a yoga class: learn some relaxation exercises.
Also go to movies, concerts, plays, basketball games.
Don’t stress about being busy. It’s better than being bored.
Relish the feeling of being in a crowded, noisy room. It’s beautiful.
Visit your grandparents, give them extra long hugs.
Make every moment with your students count.
Have lunch with your friends.
Learn to be flexible.
Oh, yes. If only we had received these fortunes. But we would have thought they were silly—we do those things all the time!!
Wow, Rachel, that is some great advice. So much there to be thankful for and remember from January. We will always appreciate those things more when we get back to being able to do them. And we will someday. Humanity is resilient. I love this, especially remembering restaurants, plays, sporting events, and extra long hugs with you today. The “Practice not touching your face” is so telling! We all could have used more than a couple months practice on that one, to be sure.
Rachel, what a neat perspective to turn back the hands of time and offer some self-fortune advice. If I had thought for one minute that I needed to stock up on TP, I would have probably felt a lot like Noah building that ark. I think about him a lot these days – – wondering just who our 2020 Noah is and what she knows. My favorite line: Make every moment with your students count. What a beautiful mantra going forward!
Truth here. Let us embrace these fortunes and go forth for a better world! We can make it happen. If we don’t, Covid-19 will!
Rachel,
I so appreciate your reflection here and wisdom of what and where we can learn to see and experience gratitude now and when we return to these places. Love this line, “Relish the feeling of being in a crowded, noisy room. It’s beautiful..”
Love the word “beautiful.”
Sarah
Rachel,
I think many of us have 20/20 hindsight. I’ve told my husband more than once I wish we had taken a trip during the holidays. We usually do. *sigh* It’s not too late to learn yoga. All the Down Dog apps are free to educators. What I love most about your poem is the way it makes me think about the importance of nurturing each seemingly small moment. Thank you.
—Glenda
But it is in the midst of this pandemic that we find the inspiration and actually are taking the time to write poetry. There is that, I guess.
Kim.
Thank you for the prompt. It was loads of fun reading O’Hara’s and yours and your collaborators. Thank you Dawn, Carrie, and Nolan for adding a lot of fun to this prompt. There were some laugh out loud fortunes for me. “That cookie you just cracked was the presumptive cure for all disease if left intact.” and “Never forget: Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana!” and “your crows feet will fly…” So many more too. It was really fun. My fortunes are a little darker.
Fortunes for the Oval Office
You will watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy and see your story’s end come about miserably.
You will always be hated and last you’ll forever be rated.
You are not the emperor; put on some damn clothes.
Your “reign” is temporal, everyone but you knows.
Take off “my precious,” you prostituted power pilferer.
Next year you will move south and our country will get back on kilter.
You will learn you are not above the law.
Your kind of pride goes before a fall.
Cast not pearls before swine.
Hire not those who lack a spine.
If you released them from their NDAs, what would your grown children have to say?
You will reap what you have sown.
Clean your house starting with you alone.
Narcissistic personality disorder is an illness; admit you have it in the holy stillness.
Denise,
You nailed these fortunes. I love, love, love this, and I’m a bit jealous I didn’t think of this laser-like focus you’ve brought to the prompt give how much I detest that guy in the Oval Office. I thought picking a favorite would be easy, but it’s not. Here are a few I love a tiny bit more than some:
“You are not the emperor; put on some damn clothes.” First I love the allusion, and I’m all in on taboo words when discussing president liar-in-chief.
“Take off “my precious,” you prostituted power pilferer.” The alliteration is fabulous, and I see that LotR meme “My precious” and hear that voice when I read this.
“Cast not pearls before swine.” No need to take the prophesy outside the Bible. Too bad that depraved narcissist has never read it.
“Clean your house starting with you alone.” Love the turn-the-tables phrasing in this one.
Thank you for taking the prompt and soaring with it. You’re my kind of human. ❤️
—Glenda
Denise, These are great. I kept envisioning memes to go along with them…a lot of orange in the background. Your phrase, “prostituted power pilferer” is pure genius. Thank you for this today.
You will reap what you have sown. We can only hope.
Great prophesies Denise! Thankful for belief in the written word!
I want to send these to be printed on posters and flyers and skywriting smoke! These were my faves:
You are not the emperor; put on some damn clothes.
Take off “my precious,” you prostituted power pilferer.
If you released them from their NDAs, what would your grown children have to say?
It’s hard to imagine the great demise, but I trust it’s coming. Thank you and have a wonderful Friday!
Denise, all of these great fortunes AND you have rhyme scheme that adds another dimension of LOVE IT! to your poem. My favorite line: “You are not the emperor; put on some damn clothes.” I also love “Hire not those who lack a spine.” The deep thought in that one line alone could cast us into countless hours of consideration. Your reference from children’s literature of the emperor and the pearls/swine and reap/sow from the Bible are fitting lines for these troubling times.
Denise, thank you for your poem! These lines really captured my attention today:
You’ll reap what you’ve sown.
Clean your house starting with you alone.
Narcissistic personality disorder is an illness; admit you have it in the holy stillness.
I love the foreshadowing and the attitude that is dripping from each of your lines.
Denise,
Such clever wording:
Cast not pearls before swine.
Hire not those who lack a spine.
The rhyme is whimsical but the imagery of a jewel, animal, and backbone sit with me in such a way that that makes me synthesize our chaos in a new way.
Sarah
Wow! These are viciously wonderful. I’ve long called him the emperor with no clothes. I have to double star “prostituted power pilferer.” My husband has been calling him Pontius Pilate washing his hands of any blame or blood.
Amen, Denise — How eloquently you lambaste the beast. I love every last line of this. I think I laughed at “put on some damn clothes” — I love that oblivious emperor image — and your voice just hammers that one. Thank you for a Friday laugh. Susie
Set your worries aside
You are surrounded by love
This is a time to try something new
You are a natural beauty
Turn off the camera and no one can see your roots
Your bangs look great longer
This too, shall pass
Resist the urge to give yourself a haircut
Remember, we are all in this together!
Mo, this is so great, so sweet and calming! I think I am a member of the audience to which you write. Thank you for the encouragement. I have cut my bangs twice already, though.
Twice, Denise?!? I think I’m one of the lucky ones. I recently decided to try to grow out my very short hair and shoot for a bob. No one has to know that I’m in that awkward phase now, but the roots are another story!
Mo,
Your first to fortunes wrap me in warmth, but the third one is my favorite: “Turn off the camera and no one can see your roots.” I chuckled. Seeing the angst others experience from their roots growing out makes me feel as though I made the right decision to let my gray take over a few years ago. I’m glad you’re here. Thank you.
—Glenda
You are so brave! I’m not there yet!
I grew my bangs out about three years ago. And I gave up on coloring last year. I may have had fortune cookies hat I was previously unaware of. Or great portent abilities (is that even a phrase??) Loved your positive fortunes.
Hi Mo, this is love on paper sent right to our hearts! Thank you so much for these words of encouragement. My faves are:
Turn off the camera and no one can see your roots (I have a bad situation of colors going on!)
This too, shall pass (My favorite message and I always add: It came to pass so I know it’s not permanent.)
Remember, we are all in this together! (TEAM Together Everyone Achieves More! WE got this Mo!)
You’re a winner! Big hugs! ?
Mo, great uplifting, encouraging advice for all of us here in your fortunes. What I love most about it is that I hear a Desiderata tone, and it has a calming and reassuring feel. Those roots, though. I may end up avoiding the scissors, but I can’t promise that I’m not going to look again on Amazon for hair coloring that is currently not available until mid June…….my favorite line: This is a time to try something new. It inspires me to want to walk along the edge of the woods and bring back some flowers to press!
Oh my! I definitely needed to hear this “Resist the urge to give yourself a haircut”! I smiled so widely after reading your poem this morning. I may need to hold these lines in my head throughout the day to keep going!
“Turn off the camera” is so perfect for these days of Zoom meetings. The pony tail holder is my new best accessory. Ha!
Hi, Mo — I love all of these. But I laughed out loud with “Resist the urge to give yourself a haircut,” as I stood in front of the mirror this morning and truly contemplating that act of desperation. LOL! I am heeding your words…put that scissors away! Thanks, you put me back on track! LOL! Susie
Well, this prompt has me stumped. This is pretty random, and I don’t think my brain will function any better as the day progresses. ? I need to crowdsource!
“ In Time of Quarantine”
Early to bed, early to rise
Makes for a long day of social distancing.
There is music you never hear
Unless you tune into an Instagram concert.
Never take medical advice from Dr. Oz,
A.K.A. Dr. 2-3% “presents an appetizing opportunity.”
In time of quarantine trust not cookie prophecy
Baked by man who says, “I alone can fix it.”
Just as wearing a mask doesn’t turn you into an actor,
Wearing a mask embossed with business card likely not social gathers potential clientele.
She who cuts her own hair during quarantine
Wears choppy, hairy billboard for hiring professional stylist.
Remember: The man who says, “It would have been so easy to have been truthful,” Probably read it off a teleprompter during a presser rally.
Who knew? ?♀️
They who wash hands a hundred times a day,
May still fail the smell test for feet, breath, underarms, and truthfulness.
—Glenda Funk
Glenda, you sell yourself short. Your poem is a reflection of so many important issues we are all processing. What’s striking to me as I read through the poems this month is that we are all so over the place. Some days it’s been so difficult for me to write, and other days I feel like I have to write. Some days I’m so anxious and others I’m fairly content. Every time I read someone else’s writing I’m reminded of the fact that we all have to deal with this in our own ways. Your poem is very honest- I really appreciate it. Stay healthy!
Like Mo said, there are so many issues that come to life here in your poem. The Dr. Oz fortune has me with steam coming out of my ears. I feel ready to blow a lot of days! Thank you for your playful expression of these quarantine fortunes. I like the self-hair-cutter who becomes a walking billboard for the pros. We will all appreciate the professionals when this is over, won’t we?
Glenda,
You are hilarious and creative. It appears your brain was functioning appropriately! The cookie prophecy is my favorite and very true on so many levels. Thank you for this today.
#3 is the best!! I love your “current events” approach to this week’s poetry. I learn something or go “YES!” To something every time.
Glenda, your fortunes are foolproof! I love this one in particular:
In time of quarantine trust not cookie prophecy
Baked by man who says, “I alone can fix it.”
It has the ring of a real fortune by Confucius himself. Truth.
And I love the way you pull in a previous poem about cutting your own hair as a warning – for all of us! Just letting you know that I did call my hairdresser yesterday, and she did talk me off a ledge. I did put the scissors back.
This is fun and upbeat, and that last line…… I love it!
You’ve created another fun artifact for this pandemic! I love the line “baked by man who says, ‘I alone can fix it.” Please tell me you didn’t cut your hair!
I think writing fortunes might be a fun game to play while social distancing, on one of those seemingly endless zoom or FaceTime calls.
Hi Maureen,
I have not cut my hair. I will not cut my own hair. Promise!
G
Glenda — You handled this just great! Each of these was fun and on target in my world. I too have discovered so much good music on Instagram! Cool stuff! I LOVED “Baked by man who says, “I alone can fix it.” (the hubris of that statement still blows me away) I love the phrasing of “…cuts her own hair…Wears choppy, hairy billboard for hiring professional stylist.” LOLOLOL! Too true! And the final “smell test”… AHAHAHA! Totally fun! Susie
One of my former students is living the farm life and recently posted a video of her four year old watching a chick hatch. I captured her words into a poem. It’s not really the assignment, but I wanted to share it, so I am. #permissiontobreaktherules
Lorelei Hatches a Chick
Hey little buddy,
Are you scared?
Your friends will get hatched soon.
I wish I could hold you.
Welcome to the family.
I miss you.
I’m four now.
Margaret, some of the best poems are written on the days when the inspiration is cast aside and we let our pens lead – as you have proven today! As a preacher’s kid, I understand that #permissiontobreaktherules is where all the fun is! I love this scene – – a child watching a chick hatch. Great eggcitement in those moments of discovery and wonder. I love the question: are you scared? Only a child would think to ask that after greeting the new baby. Thank you for sharing this tender moment with us today.
Kim, Thanks for your kind response. I love the idea of a fortune poem, really. We use this prompt with kids about a fiction book they are reading. “What fortune would you write for each character.” I now think I’ll change the prompt to make it a poem form as well. Thanks.
Oh, Margaret. This made my day. It is actually a message for all of us right now, isn’t it? “I wish I could hold you”.. I want to hug that little girl.
But I wouldn’t be allowed to…
What a sweet way to start my day! This is lovely, Margaret. For some reason, the line, “I’m four now” gave me the feels. I think it’s the way the little boy opens himself up to the chick and shares such important information.
This is delightful and precious. Dear Lorelei making such beautiful observations.
Margaret, thanks for sharing this sweet poem. It’s good to be reminded that our children still experience the wonder of new life… especially in the midst of all the death notices we see in the media. So glad the mom captured in pictures and you showed us in words!
Margaret, your poem made the sun shine a little brighter this morning when I read it. I have never seen a chick hatch – city life over here – but it sounds magical. To hear it from the perspective of this four year old was an amazing read today.
This is precious! My son teaches preschool, and his classroom chicks hatched about a week after quarantine began…this is the learning he tried to show virtually! “I wish I could hold you.” I know this feeling all too well these days.
“Fortunes for the Romantic”
One who puts toothpaste on your brush every night must have good breath for kissing
One who constrains their farts during courting is one to hold on to
One who will dress you during a thrown out back should not be thrown out
One who has a special dance move for your eyes only is a keeper
One who you can laugh at, laugh with, and find humor during quarantine is a gem
One who adds “in bed” to the end of all of their fortunes is the one for you
Stefani, this is a fun technique at the end – – sending us back to add “in bed” to the end of every line. I see you “spiced it up,” and gave us a tantalizing show of words. My favorite line is the last one – with “in bed” added at the end! It reminds me a lot of the Facebook challenges recently to tell what your pets are currently doing, but change the wording of pets to “the drunk guy at the end of the bar.” Such fun, witty humor – – with a splash of Tabasco sauce!
Stefani, what a tribute to a long-time partner! Love is so much more than the excitement of those first few months when we are all on our best behavior. You’ve painted a picture of a long-lasting love that is comfortable, yet still so special. I was thinking of my husband and checking off boxes at the end of your lines. So relatable!
Stefani,
These are wonderful criteria for finding the “One.” Sometimes holding the fart is challenging.
—Glenda
Fun and romance here in your poem today, Stefani. Thank you. I like the “One who” pattern and the synonyms for keeping this one at the end of each line. It has playful truth right here. My favorite is about the special dance move for your eyes only. It shows vulnerability and safeness with the other person.
These are witty and fun! We have long added the phrase “between the sheets” to our fortunes…
Fortune Cookies for Distance Learning
Do not fear. Google links will be strong today.
Online lesson will be sublime. One student will turn it in.
You will not need makeup today. You look great.
When flushing toilet, mute meeting.
When leaving house, wear pants.
You will accomplish nothing today.
If a quiz is written and no-one opens it, is it a quiz?
Your hair looks just fine.
Everything is fine. Just fine. Everything is fine.
Gayle, you have me me cracking up this morning. Your title sets the mind for what is to come, and then from the first line every line is a concentrated truth about this new normal we are living. From “one student will turn it in,” to “you will not need makeup.” My favorite two lines: “When flushing toilet, mute meeting. When leaving house, wear pants.” Pants will be a game-changer when the world re-opens, and I’m going to need new ones with elastic. Your use of the tree-falling-in-the-woods question, custom tailored to distance learning, is clever and keeps us thinking at the end! Love it!
Gayle,
Your last fortune rings true the feeling of Groundhog’s day…the repetition of this all is just fine. Have you seen the SNL Zoom skit? Your line about the toilet made me think of it. Thank you for this fun poem today.
This poem is full of the unfortunate truth of our times. I was in a Zoom meeting yesterday that was a first for most people on the call, so we had to instruct them on “Hit the mute button until you need to speak.” One person never did find the mute button. And in my experience, I am putting lessons out there (no Zoom allowed) and no one is doing them. Is it a quiz? Everything is fine. I’m holding onto that line for goodness sake.
If a quiz is written and no one opens it, is it really a quiz? Hahaha. Love it. Nice poem for the moment.
I. can. not. pick. a. favorite. line. Yesterday, I watched the Friends clip with Ross insisting to Rachel and Joey that everything’s fine. I couldn’t stop watching it. I can’t stop re-reading your poem.
Gayle, your topic drew me in right away. I felt like you were looking into my soul/computer when I read, “One student will turn it in.” Thanks also for the reminder to wear pants! I love your very deep question about the quiz. Thanks for the chuckle this morning!
Gayle,
Hahaha! “When flushing toilet, mute meeting.” These are all so good, but the pants and toilet are my faves. Who could have predicted this new way of learning would be normal and require a new way of thinking.
—Glenda
Gayle, I loved your fortunes for distance learning. My favorites: “When leaving the house, wear pants.” I spit out the water I was drinking on that one! and “You will accomplish nothing today.” Sometimes it feels like that because the list of to-dos is longer at the end of the day than at the beginning. And the ending is perfect. “Everything is fine.” Convince me. We all have to keep saying it.
Hello Gayle,
If this could be my imaginary therapist’s advice today, I WOULD TAKE IT and pay her/him DOUBLE!
I really needed these words of wisdom and prophecy today.
My faves:
Online lesson will be sublime. One student will turn it in.
Your hair looks just fine.
Mostly because these are my issues all day, I appreciate the reassurance that I’m not alone.
And of course this needed repetition:
Everything is fine. Just fine. Everything is fine!!!! YESSS!!
Much gratitude for my free therapy today!
Gayle, Your line “If a quiz is written and no-one opens it, is it a quiz?” asks a question I’m glad I can view and humorous because I now am retired and only tutor online, and am not responsible for multiple students right now!
My heart goes out to those who have this responsibility. How are students going to be assessed to determine their grade placements next year? What about families who do not have access to technology or wideband, or someone at home to help them navigate this uncertainty?
Please know, I am not jealous at all! I admire you and others attempting to keep them “normal” as possible during these times.
Your closing line, “Everything is fine. Just fine. Everything is fine.” lets me know you are retaining a level of optimism that will see you through!
There is great wisdom about our pandemic in these witty lines! Save this as an artifact for this time in history. Love “If a quiz is written and no-one opens it, is it a quiz?”
Gayle — You made me belly laugh! “When flushing toilet, mute meeting.” OMG…too hilarious. And “If a quiz is written and no-one opens it, is it a quiz?” Ha! Darned good question. Geez…Distance learning is a bear. But “just fine…fine…” You are a warrior1 Hang in there — and don’t forget your pants! Thanks, Susie