Our Host
Stacey L. Joy is a National Board Certified Teacher, Google Certified Educator, L.A. County and LAUSD Teacher of the Year. This is Stacey’s 40th and final year of elementary classroom teaching. She currently teaches 5th grade at Baldwin Hills Gifted Magnet and Pilot School. Stacey is a poet at heart with one self-published book and several poems published in various anthologies.
Inspiration
In the spring of 2025, Leilya Pitre introduced me to the fun poetic form called a Tricube. I wrote a spring poem to her prompt and had been eager to write a tricube poem again. If you want to revisit Leilya’s prompt and responses, visit this link.
Here we are in February with so much to celebrate: Black History Month, Snack Month, Library Lovers Month, American Heart Month, and Hot Breakfast Month. I’m inspired to write a tricube and I hope you are too.
Process
A tricube has three stanzas containing three lines, and each line has three syllables (3/3/3). You might choose one of the February celebrations or something else that speaks to you.
Try to answer the question: What do you believe in? Then, compose your tricube poem or write your poem with or without a poetic form. Most of all, have fun writing!
Stacey’s Poem
I Believe in Waffles
Waffle waits
Warm butter
Syrup drips
Not too sweet
Cooked just right
Crispy edge
One bite then
Many more
I devour
© Stacey L. Joy, 6/23/25
Your Turn
Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own poem. (This is a public space, so you may choose to 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. 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. Also, please be sure to respond to at least three writers.
I believe in me.
Dreams deferred
til time
makes time
I know it will
find me
save me
when I need it
most.
I believe in quality time
Laughing lots
Laying down
Eating food
Late night drives
Singing songs
Coffee trips
Long deep talks
Dressing up
Together
I imagine you have a wonderful life partner to have these quality times with together. What a blessing!
Sophia, what a glorious way to live and be in this crazy world! The ending is perfect!!
Sophia, these are wonderful! I love “[l]aughing lots” and “[l]ong deep talks” the most. Thanks for sharing this!
Stacey! What an inviting prompt! I want to write another…and another! Thank you for the on-ramp. (And the only thing better than waffles is German pancake.) XO
I believe
in movement
rat-tat-tat
Making steps
missteps and
loud mistakes
Holy mess
bless my
errant soul.
Allison, hi!! I am glad the prompt and form worked for you. I absolutely love the second stanza especially the loud mistakes!
You’re a keeper!🤗
Allison, I love the sound of this poem as it dances towards the explosion of joy in the last stanza, “Holy mess bless my errant soul.” I could feel the spirit of James Brown smiling in agreement!
Love your poem, Allison. The sound, the joy of missteps, is all fantastic!
I Believe in Music
Warms the heart
Soft bass tone
Steady beat
Listen close
Hear the words
Sing aloud
Move your feet
Clap your hands
Dance all night
Aaron, the tricube form fits your poem perfectly, giving it a lyrical quality. It flows like a song!
A waltz!
Aaron, the last stanza calls me to action – I want a dance break, perhaps, not all night, but for some time to shake off the day’s work. Thank you for sharing!
This has such great rhythm, Aaron!
Aaron, yes!!! Music is my medicine. I just can’t dance all night anymore. 😆 Thank you for sharing this reminder to enjoy the music. Our world needs it.
Aaron, poem evokes times listening to music as I ride my Exercycle. The playlist with different beats and speeds may not spawn dancing, but I do finish comparably inspired. Thanks for the reminder.
I can feel the rhythm. Aaron. I am planning a trip to Nashville and hope to clap my hands and dance all night.
I Believe- Sermon on the Mount
Be humble
and be kind
Be the meek
of the earth
Love others
as yourself
Yours will be
the kingdom
of heaven
KSK, you’ve really gotten to the essence of what is important in life!well done.
The beautitudes are so important and powerful and the words and ideas you chose with this compact form really helps get to the essence. Bravo!
K.S.K.
Let the day come! This is the world I pray
for!
K.S.K. Amen and amen! I believe too!
I believe in Video Games
I sit down
chair then squeaks
turn on game
headset blinks
needs a charge
plug out of sight
turn off game
walk upstairs
in bed for the night
Easton, I have zero experience with video games, but I appreciate how you explain the attraction to them so simply in this poem. I feel like it’s part of a routine, like a bedtime story. This would be a great mentor text for kids to let them know poets write about everything!
Easton, I smiled reading your title and mentally scolded myself. Your ending made me chuckle again – no game tonight. Such a smart turn! Thank you!
Haha!! I wasn’t expecting you to give in and go to bed! Love it. It’s bizarre how headphones are always low and the cord is never close by. 😊
Haha, Easton, I so love the title. It seems you have a good handle on playing and then disconnecting. That seems important. Nice rhyming on squeaks / blinks (which are fun to read in the poem) and sight and night. Well done.
I love the ode to the waffle! I like how the final stanza has a little pause before the happy last line.
I Believe in Messes
clear the couch
pillow walls
blanket roof
blanket fort —>
pizza shop—>
Santa’s sleigh
flip and crawl
snuggle in
kid brain joy
Yes, Emily! Great messes that build kids’ brain joy. I love this. Fun, fun! Are you having a snow day, by chance?
Emily,
I believe in this, too! I’m leaning on a Squishmallow pillow as I respond and have a fluffy throw and dog on my lap. Love the use of arrows in your poem. Very clever. I’m feeling a philosophy of comfort in your words.
Emily, I am all for blanket forts and Santa’s sleighs. Love “kids brain joy.” 🥰
Emily, this is a treasure! I loved my forts as a child. Nothing beats “kid brain joy” and I need some! 💕
Absolutely!!
Emily! I also wrote about believing in messes. I loved especially the second stanza as the for became a pizza shop (?) and then Santa’s sleigh! (???!)
Yes, snuggle in. Poetry gives us a reason to pay attention.
Wow! This took me back to those days of abandon with couch cushions and sheets filling every space! I love that “kid brain joy” – need more of that in my life! Thanks for sharing!
I also believe in messes, sometimes mess is the best!
Happy Monday, Ethical ELA Fam,
Of course, it’s a busy work-day and I will be commenting sporadically during the day. I’m on west coast time, so most of my responses will be after school.
I want to say thank you to everyone for the poetry shared, the comments, and as always, the warm landing space offered.
See you soon!
This I Believe
By Mo Daley 2/23/26
We must read
every day-
we must learn.
We must grow,
change views if
need be, yes!
We can’t be
stagnant in
this sad world.
Hi Mo,
I hope you’re feeling better. Perfect solution to today’s world: read, learn, and grow!
Yes!!
Yes, yes, great thing to believe in this chapter we’re in. The sad statistic of low adult reading ability makes me nervous for our future, but then today I heard Eileen Gu talking about her thought process and I get hope in the younger generation. “We must learn” Definitely!
Read, learn, grow, change should be a must, Mo! I agree.
Mo,, your cubicle reminds us to get into books! I recall curling up in the cubicle at college, doing just that, till the librarian knocked on the window to tell me time was up! Oh well , I could check out the book and keep growing in my dorm room, especially if my bustling room mate was still out!
Your poem is a needed admonishment. We must. We must. We can’t.
In solidarity,
Allison
Yes, Mo! I agree with all of this! “We can’t be / stagnant in / this sad world.” Thank you for this!
HOT BREAKFAST IN PDC
Mole soul
Lava hum
Queso dust
Green flesh rests
Roosters seed
Yolk sunbeams
Flower flare
Gold maize wrap
I believe
Sarah, such fun sounds in your tricube–the long e, “flower flare” and that first stanza–so great. I love how you added “I believe” as the finish of the poem. It gives more depth!
Sarah,
This makes me hungry for mole, the kind you find in Oaxaca, mole capital of the world. Breakfast in other countries is a holy experience, I believe!
Mmmmm you conjured the most beautiful breakfast wrap in the world!! Enjoy – I love the gold maize wrap- elevating to luxury!!
Is it just me or does this poem beg us to eat something scrumptious?! 😋
Sarah, your poem makes me hungry. Your words and phrases are delicious: lava hum, queso dust, and my favorite – yolk sunbeams. Your poetic plate is layered beautifully.
You put “I believe” as the last line, while many of us began with those words. I appreciate hearing the specifics…before I jump on the “I believe” with you!
Sarah, Even though I can see what’s on your plate, I want to SEE what’s on your plate! Add a pic, plz! It sounds delicious! Gimme some of that “queso dust”! Beautiful!
I Believe…. I believe in
A King who is true
and Never fails
Whose promises
He fulfills
Every time
Through the night
He is always near
Guides my soul
Storms will rage
Winds may howl
My faith stands still
All my steps
He will keep
Safe and secure
I will trust
Evermore
He is God
He is Good.
This is so steady and full of assurance—the way you write “Storms will rage… My faith stands still” feels like a quiet anchor in the middle of chaos, and it carries such calm conviction.
I’m with you!!! Unwavering faith in this unsteady world is the only way to make it.
I love those last two lines–the reminder the God is Good.
Amen! Awesome!!
The simplicity of these deep ideas gives me a lot of comfort on this hard Monday. Let’s make this into a poster!
Love this prompt so much, Stacey. The tri-cube made it a special challenge, but I need to be kept between the lines often.
I am re-reading (through audio…that voice) Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. He has these maxims he calls bumper stickers and he just said: “I’ll take a little common sense with that knowledge” and I knew I had my inspiration.
I sure wish I was still in the classroom. Kids would be great at this topic and this form.
bumper sticker
common sense
beats knowledge
every time
knowing things
only takes
you so far
sound judgment
is the key
to success
~Susan Ahlbrand
24 February 2026
This one made me smile—“common sense beats knowledge every time” just feels like something you’d say over coffee and everyone would nod, because we’ve all seen how far good judgment can actually take you. And how is retirement?
Ha!! My son and I recently shared our concerns that my daughter thinks she knows everything, but her common sense is lacking.😂
Thanks Susan!
This is a very clever poem, Susan! I think that there is some great advice in here that I know I could use sometimes.
Susan, I am smiling as I read and reread your poem, but sense a little sarcasm in “sound judgement / is the key / to success.” Thank you for this treat!
Greenlights sounds like I might have to add it to my listening list. I love his voice too. I like his maxim about taking a little common sense with that knowledge. So funny! Your poem is golden too. “knowing things / only takes / you so far” Isn’t that the truth!? Yes, to sound judgment and common sense.
Jay-Sus
Believe Jay,
Born today,
always stay.
Within Us,
is a must,
so Precious.
He, J-Sus,
Among us,
Ever trust.
Cross of peace,
to unleash,
souls to reach.
Heaven high,
above sky,
last goodbye.
no more pain,
cleansing rain,
promised reign.
Return Jay,
Glory day,
today, pray.
praise!! I really enjoy this poem. I wrote a very similar one, it was nice to see another faith based poem. I really likes the “Cross of peace, to unleash, souls to reach”
This one has such a steady rhythm to it—“Within Us, is a must, so Precious” feels heartfelt and personal, like you’re reminding yourself of something sacred in a simple, everyday way, and that “Return Jay, Glory day” ending carries real hope.
Really powerful poem, awesome to see how important your faith is to you.
Boxer, this is love!
Stacey – I am hungry for waffles! Yum! Thanks to you and Seana for hosting this month!! We have a snow day here…inspiring my tricube…
I Believe
birds retreat
squirrels hide
deer nestle
trees lean back
bushes rest
we can, too
listen to
Ma Nature
take a nap
Maureen, your message makes me smile and think of my dad, brother and now my son who all LOVE a good power nap. They too quote nature’s need for rest. I am not a napper, but plop me on the couch with a good book, and I “nestle” likke the deer!
Oh, I just love this—it feels so gentle and wise. “trees lean back… we can, too” reads like the softest permission slip to rest, and “Ma Nature take a nap” makes it feel like the earth itself is tucking us in.
Sarah
Oh, I’m loving Ma Nature napping in this wintry season. I know there are schools closed today because of the snow. We should listen and take a nap!
I love how you used a current experience to inspire your poem! This is making me wish that my school had a snow day right now.
Maureen,
If only we would listen to nature, learn and take notes, maybe we would last longer. “Trees lean back” … something beautiful to imagine.
I love this, naps are the best this time of the year. They get even better when the rain is hitting your window in the spring.
Stacey, I want to go make waffles now! I always make one when there is a waffle maker at our hotel breakfast. “I devour” So true! Thank you for hosting these days!
A Tricube After An Argument
I believe in
forgiving–
you and me
the bitter
alternate
is blaming
I’ll choose to
close in love
forgiving
Lovely advice, Denise; so important to “close in love.”
Denise,
I love this poem and all it says about each person who both embraces and eschews forgiving. I have long believed forgiving is more for the one doing the forgiving, not the one receiving forgiveness. Excellent tricube.
Denise, this is lovely and SO true. Forgiveness is, in my opinion, one of the gifts that allows us to go through life with a smile.
Oh, this one feels so tender and grown—“the bitter / alternate / is blaming” says so much in so few words, and the way you end with “close in love” just feels like a deep exhale after the storm.
Sarah
Really amazing job, some of your word choice really makes this poem really have emotion. Awesome work!
Hi Denise,
Your poem is a lesson for young lovers to learn. Isn’t it sad how long it takes so many people to learn to forgive? Thank you for this gift.
Believing in forgiveness is certainly fundamental to succeeding in life. Your words ring so true and you cut through the BS and get right to it!
Denise, simply gorgeous poem!
Stacey, thank you for your really great poem that makes me smile and remember those wonderful waffle breakfasts when my kids were littles. It’s a blizzard with flickering internet for me and I am trying to finish Theo of Golden and thinking about how much I love to read at the beach!
My fluffy
Robe hugs me
While snow falls.
The warm sand
Ocean breeze
Warms my soul.
I’ll read in
Both, for me
Beach is best!
Anita, perfection! I love “I’ll read in / Both” The fluffy robe and the warm sand. So much to love here. Enjoy your mental escape to the beach today.
Fun to be wistful about the ocean in the midst of snow – and yes, books go with both!
Anita
thinking about all my east coast friends battling the blizzard. Stay safe. I lie on the couch w/ a heating pad on my feet most days and dream of the beach, too. I’m also reading Theo of Golden. I’m going to try to finish before the month ends.
This one feels so cozy and you—it’s like you’re holding both worlds at once. “My fluffy / Robe hugs me” is pure comfort, and then “Ocean breeze / Warms my soul” just opens everything up… but I love that you end with “Beach is best!” like a playful little wink.
Sarah
Hi Anita,
Your poem gives me warm fuzzies thinking of reading in a robe while the snow falls outside. But I’m with you and I prefer to read at the beach also. Glad you can do both. ❄️🌞
Where hope lives
I believe in the quiet things-
the way morning light slips across a table,
the way someone listens when you need it most.
I believe in second chances,
in people trying again,
in kindness that shows up without being asked.
I believe in hope,
in taking the next small step,
and in the softness we offer the world
when we choose to be gentle.
Nora, this is lovely and I too believe in quiet, second chances, and hope. Your last line about choosing to be gentle will stay with me.
Ah, Nora, so gentle and lovely. My favorite line is “and in the softness we offer the world” I don’t know why that is speaking so richly to me today, but thank you!
This is beautiful. I love the quiet things, too.
Oh, this is just beautiful. “the way morning light slips across a table” feels so intimate and grounded, like hope isn’t loud or flashy—it’s right there in the ordinary. And that last line, “the softness we offer the world / when we choose to be gentle,” feels like a quiet philosophy for living. It’s hopeful without being naïve, which makes it all the more powerful.
Sarah
Nora, I love the message you are sending with this poem! As I read it, I could put picture and sound to it, as if it were a short, inspirational film!
Nora,
Your poem is a love song for all of us to enjoy. I sometimes wonder if teachers are the only ones who really appreciate quiet.😂
Thanks, Stacey for the prompt and those waffles. I can smell and taste them right now.
In the Blizzard
A lone goose
flies in fog,
snow coming.
Direction
unknown now,
honks to guide.
Waits and waits,
flies and flies,
honks and honks.
Suddenly
a response,
follows sound.
A lone goose
joins her flock,
safe and sound.
Joanne, I too am in the blizzard of 26 as it will be known and while I am glad to have internet back for now, I have yet to go outside in the wind and snow! Your image of the long goose makes me think of the many hazards of this weather for both humans and animals.
This reminds me of The Wild Robot in the most delightful way! The protection of
community sounds so beautiful and warm in the middle of the blizzard!
Good news that the goose was able to join the flock. I had forgot about the title and then read it again. Yikes! Even more impressive that she made it back.
I am imagining this precious scene! Glad that lone goose is back with her flock. Lovely.
Joanne,
A goose honk is one of my favorite nature sounds. Love the celebration of it and the echo of Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese your poem creates in my mind.
Oh, I really love this one. “honks to guide” is so simple, but it carries so much—like even when direction is unknown, we can still call out and trust someone will answer. And that ending, “joins her flock, safe and sound,” feels like such a gentle relief after all that waiting. It’s hopeful in a really grounded, earned way.
Sarah
Joanne, your poem is so sweet (although I’m not a bird fan)😂. It should be in a children’s book. My heart is happy that it found its flock.
I Believe in Connection
Gazes meet;
old friends greet;
mem’ries shared.
Intros made;
discords fade;
outlooks bared.
Insights built;
viewpoints tilt:
people cared.
Kelley, this is lovely and makes me think of the way we sometimes connect with someone we meet in passing on a plane, in our classes, on a walk.
Kelly, fun rhyming scheme you created here in your tricube. I like “intros made / discords fade” Very nice!
Love how you shrunk “memories” to “mem’ries” – sets such a nice tone for “old friends.” Enjoyed your rhymes, too!
Kelly,
This is wonderful, and isn’t connection why we are here. I love the harmony in your poem and the way each word moves us closer to connecting.
Kelley,
“Gazes meet; / old friends greet” instantly pulls us into that warm, familiar spark of connection, and I really love how “viewpoints tilt” suggests growth without conflict—just people listening and shifting a little because they care. It feels hopeful and human in the best way.
Sarah
This is a very nostalgic poem for me, and I really appreciate the direction you took with it. I also love the flow of this poem. It fits together very nicely!
Kelley,
I appreciate your poem because I feel like there’s a lack of connection everywhere I look. If only people would take a minute to put their phones down and connect eye to eye, face-to-face, heart to heart. Thank you for sharing this.
This is a very good poem, I love the “old friends greet: mem’ries shared.” part. Great job!
Okie, dokie, Joy!
Teaming Fun!
I believe
That teamwork
Does work best
And so I
Plan most tasks
To have time
For sharing
For learning
For us all
This was fun to read, not only fun to think about teams. I like how you used for to start the last stanza to show that teamwork is a gift.
Anna, you have celebrated teamwork working to make problem solving and learning easier. That picture of people passing and sharing is what all teaching SHOULD be about.
Anna,
This one is just so upbeat and generous. “That teamwork / Does work best” has that cheerful, confident rhythm, and I love how you end with “For sharing / For learning / For us all”—it feels inclusive and big-hearted, like you’re building space where everyone gets to belong.
Sarah
JOYTEAM FOR THE WIN!!
I love this so much because teamwork makes the dream work, right? I’m wondering if over time we will see less and less group and teamwork because of devices and people working from home.
Hi Stacey, Thanks for this prompt. Sorry I missed yesterday’s with too much else going on in my life. I am grateful to be a part of ethicalela.
Day begins
Fresh starting
Feeling strong
Midday news
Stops allure
Same old sad
Sun ending
Riots, death
Pray for peace
Oh Susan, this sums up just about every day for the past year! I know so many who say they cannot stomach the news at night as it keeps them awake in a panic state. I too pray for peace.
Susan, glad you’re back today! You show the progression of emotion from morning, noon, and night. Peace to you!
Susan, I already commented to Wendy about sad realities of these days, whihc you, too, capture so accurately. Sending hopeful thoughts!
Susan,
The line “Same old sad” is a reality gutted punch. I’m w/ you praying for peace.
Susan,
Feels so honest and human. “Midday news / Stops allure” captures that jolt we all know—the way the world can interrupt our strength—and ending with “Pray for peace” feels tender, like a quiet hand placed over the heart.
I’m really glad you’re part of this space, too.
Sarah
Susan, this poem resonated with me because it accurately describes how I have been feeling lately! There is a lot of sadness in the world, but ending each day with the prayer of peace is so important.
Hi Susan,
Welcome back. I hope you’re doing well. Prayers for peace pervade so much of what I read lately. I just hope people are actually praying.
Stacey,
Thank you for hosting the past two days. I love that you took a fun approach in your poem. I needed that hint. I love waffles and my current obsession is chicken and waffles. I might need to make that for dinner this week.
The photo for my Canva is from the Marilyn Monroe statue in Palm Springs. I took this a few years ago while in Denise’s corner of the country.
i believe in pedicures
[tricube]
hot water
bubbly soak
pumice stone
toes snipped-trimmed
old skin sloughed
foot cream rub
nail polish
rainbow hues
pampered feet
Glenda Funk
February 23, 2026
I’m not sure I do believe in pedicures unless they are gifts. I’m too cheap, but you make me reconsider. Well done.
Ah Glenda, the luxury of pedicure. My poor feet are jealous. Maybe my feet need this treat after I shovel some snow! Thank you for the warm soak!
You’re selling me on pedicures! You walk us through the process in a way that makes me think it’s nice to renew and refresh so quickly. I like your repeated sounds, too. Enjoy!
Glenda, what word magic! Look at all those perfect three-syllable lines that bring out the best in pedicures. You are making me believe in pedicures too. Wonderful!
Glenda, I need it now–you describe it so enticingly! Last week my kids treated me to a good dip tissue massage, and it felt glorious to be pampered.
Glenda, this is SO much fun to read and smile about as I prepare for round one of shoveling in wool socks! I have not had this pedi-luxury since the summer and my feet are crying in jealousy!
Glenda,
This one is so playful and sensory—I can almost feel the “hot water / bubbly soak” just reading it. And “rainbow hues / pampered feet” makes it feel bright and celebratory, like a little act of joy you claim for yourself. I also love that you tied it to that Palm Springs photo—that’s such a fun, bold image to pair with something indulgent and light. You have me examining my toes, which need some attention.
Peace,
Sarah
Hi Glenda,
Perfect pedi! I can’t wait for mine on Saturday! I’m glad you had fun with this prompt and kept your topic light.
💅
A pedicure is one of the indulgences I love the most and your poem made me yearn for one. Think I’ll head to the salon tomorrow!
Glenda, I love pedicures and your poem has me wishing for one right now. The artful Canva is perfect!
Stacey,
Thanks for this tricube prompt! I actually used it with my “Poetry, Music, and Social Change” class today, to good effect!
My offering is below, and it might be too dark, but it pretty accurately reflects how I’m feeling today.
“I Believe in”
Street Justice:
Not the kind
That breaks glass
Or steals
Hurts people
Shatters bone
Crushes skulls
Tears it down
Stomps it dead
…or, wait, now.
Maybe that?
Wendy, I am reading the poems today and I find that you are echoing exactly what I feel today. Hard to be cheerful. Love your ending.
Wendy, this reality just keeps hurting. Thank you for your offering today!
Oh, my, Wendy! That second line has it reading all different ways, but those last two lines–rule breaking-justice seeking lines–couldn’t be left out. Did you write this one alongside your class today? If so, how did they like it?
Wendy, you are reflecting how many/most/all of us feel during this unreal season of life. I am struggling with the power of “street justice” or even how “justice” can stomp out the crush of power.I am trying to remain hopeful that in the end, the good guys will prevail.
Oh wow—this one really shifts under your feet. “Not the kind / That breaks glass” starts out clear and declarative, and then that final turn—“…or, wait, now. / Maybe that?”—adds this sharp, unsettling self-questioning that makes you pause. It’s bold and a little dangerous in the best poetic way, like you’re letting the reader sit inside the tension instead of resolving it for them.
Wendy, I love how you described what justice should look like by giving the reader a view of what it shouldn’t look like. Non-examples can sometimes be more powerful than examples!
Wendy,
Thank you for the raw truth. If it is dark, it is because these are dark times. I hope your class enjoyed the lesson. They’re blessed to have a teacher like you.
Hi, Stacey. Thank you for hosting again today, and it’s so humbling to write to the prompt I used but with a fresh idea of believing. Your waffles make everyone hungry this morning. I’d love a bite of that crispy edge right now.
I had a bit of fun this morning with two little tricubes–my excuse not to jump into a busy day right away.
I Believe in Coffee
Hot coffee
morning light
in my hands
Dark roasting
caffeine buzz
through my veins
First sip warms
winter bones
I am alive!
I Believe in Small Acts
Small acts bring
big changes
every day
Warm smiles
offer hope
to strangers
Kind support
mends broken,
lost spirits
I Believe in Small Acts says it perfectly. Those smiles give hope and mends a spirit. Yesterday, I had a gentleman stop and wish me a good morning with a smile. Made my day!
Love when these kind surprises happen 🙂
I love this! It touches my heart and who I strive to be. Thank you for sharing it.
Leilya – both of your poems brought me comfort today. They seem to flow effortlessly from your fingers
Leilya, fun! You are convincing about your belief in coffee! So fun. I love “morning light”. And your belief in small acts doesn’t surprise me! Just beautiful and a great thing to remember when we go out and about our day.
Leilya,
As a fellow coffee drinker, I feel your poem coursing through my veins, warming my coffee-loving heart. I also love the second poem. Small acts are the most important ones because they lead to big change.
Leilya, I really enjoy both of your poems. I can really relate to your coffee one as a college student. The small acts reminds me of one of my favorite songs. Thank you for sharing.
Leilya, your small acts poem is a good one for today in my world where a blizzard dumped 2 feet of snow requiring herculean energy to clean cars and shovel paths! Those warm smiles and offers of hope (and help) are reminders, as you said. of “big changes” in the way we all treat each other.
Oh, I love that these sit side by side like that—two different kinds of fuel.
The first one is pure sensory joy—“First sip warms / winter bones” is so vivid and embodied, and that “I am alive!” feels earned, like the coffee actually carried you there.
And then the second shifts beautifully into something outward-facing—“Small acts bring / big changes” is simple but steady, and “Kind support / mends broken, / lost spirits” feels generous and hopeful without being sentimental.
It really does feel like two poems: one that wakes the body, and one that steadies the heart.
The morning coffee is so relatable. Great word choice throughout as well, really brings the poems together.
Leilya, my friend, I believe in coffee and small acts! I believe in YOU!! 🥰
I believe in myself
To hope to make my life better
Believing in hopes of a new day
Believing that I am making a difference
Believing and hoping I am where I am meant to be
Ryan, this is where we need to be. Looking to the future with hope. I can imagine what the world would be like if this is what we lived and spoke and breathed. Beautiful reminder.
Ryan, I like that you begin with yourself. I wrote about small changes, and I believe that beginning with yourself is that necessary small act that can make everything better. Thank you!
Oh, I really love the sincerity here. “Believing that I am making a difference” feels especially strong—it’s simple, but it carries a lot of courage. There’s something steady about the repetition of “Believing,” too; it reads like someone planting their feet and choosing faith in themselves, line by line. Keep going—this feels like the beginning of a voice that knows it has something worth saying.
Hi Ryan, I am hopeful from reading your poem! As long as we don’t lose hope, we can win!! 🤩
Stacey,
Thanks for hosting two days in a row! Love this prompt, Coincidentally, I’ll be sending out an email today that I’m going to use tricubes for my next poetry and birding walk. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a waffle so much, I won’t be writing a poem about my breakfast of yogurt.
__________________________________
I Believe in Retirement
Free field trips
Time outside
Exploring
Barton Springs
Hike Bike Trail
Museums
Poetry
Writing Club
Connection
Structuring
Lesson Plans
For myself
Volunteer
Take classes
Learn new things
Student of
Frida K.
Tai chi, birds
Ferment food
Slowly read
War and Peace
Rewrite it
In haiku
Chapter/day
Break tricube
Rules—who cares?
I’m so free
Free field trips! 🙂 I love this. I hope I can ask for points on retirement soon. Maybe in haiku.
Oh, Sharon, I, too, believe in retirement! Every stanza in your tricubes echoes in my heart. I want those field trips, and reading, and writing, and doing things I enjoy without deadlines. Your final stanza says it all:
Break tricube
Rules—who cares?
I’m so free
I hope to join you (free people) in a few years 🙂
Okay, Sharon – I have been worrying about the time when I retire. Your joy makes me want to quit right now! I look forward to reading your War & Peace haiku!
Just radiates possibility. “Break tricube / Rules—who cares? / I’m so free” made me laugh out loud—in the best way. There’s such delight in that line, like retirement isn’t an ending at all but a wide-open studio where you get to be the student and the teacher at the same time.
I love how specific it is, too—poetry club, tai chi, fermenting food, even rewriting War and Peace in haiku (which honestly sounds like a whole retirement project in itself). It feels expansive and curious and playful, like a life still very much in motion.
Peace,
Sarah
Sharon, I love so much about this: my favorite stanzas, though, are “Structuring / Lesson Plans / For myself” and “Volunteer / Take classes / Learn new things.” “Break tricube / Rules — who cares?” Yes!
Sharon, I am with you on the joys and freedom of retirement. I wish I could go on your poetry birding walk!
Hi Sharon!
If it’s any consolation, I haven’t had waffles in over a year, which is probably why I wrote about it! I am a fruit and yogurt girl, just like you.
Oh how I love this and thank you for giving me a sneak peek into retirement. I love that you also have tai chi in your poem. That’s on my list of things to try. Enjoy your adventures!
Unfortunately
I believe
AI slop
infuses
my students’
assignments
when I ask
for any
critical
thinking skills
___________________________________
Thank you, Stacey, for your prompts this month! And thank you for reminding me of the tricube (and for also reminding me of the warm, buttery, and syrupy goodness of waffles today in your mentor poem)! My offering was prompted from watching one of my AP students – through Hapara (our district’s Big Brother “security” platform) – just type in the question, “What words would you use to describe Osric?” into a Google Search. And the AI overview quickly and dutifully gave her her thoughts. Ugh.
Scott,
Amen. I am so distressed by the number of teachers embracing AI. It’s disgusting. I could rant for hours about how awful it is when infused into English classes in any way. 😑
Scott, I am grateful for your poem today, and it reflects my scares too. I see it in my college classes even for short reflective writing and trying to learn how I can create more learning experiences that promote authentic voice and thinking.
You are so right, Scott. How do we get kids to really think? They all want the answer from somewhere else, rather than inside their own minds. I wonder if poetry warm-ups would help. There are so many wonderful examples of creative minds today with the tri-cube prompt.
AI is becoming so strong that it’s offered on so many sites, which isn’t what we want. Students should use less AI, as we don’t want to encourage it.
Scott,
I feel this one. “when I ask / for any / critical / thinking skills” lands with that dry, weary humor that only someone in the classroom can really pull off. It’s sharp, but it doesn’t feel mean—more like an exasperated sigh from someone who still cares deeply.
There’s something brave about naming the frustration out loud, too. It reads like a teacher who believes in thinking enough to be disappointed when it’s missing—which, honestly, says a lot about your standards and your heart.
Sarah
Perfect, Scott! One of the plethora of reasons I retired after last year . . . AI and how our school was embracing—hell, promoting–it. Your use of the word “infuses” drives this whole brilliant poem.
Scott, Your poem is so relevant for me right now. So many of my AP kids are not using AI for good, and it’s just sad. I am convinced that more of this type of writing using pen and paper is the way forward. AI slop is the new Invasion of the Body Snatchers…
Keep on keeping on!
I agree that AI is taking away problem solving skills. Good luck with this daily battle.
Scott, thank you for bringing AI and all of its shenanigans to the forefront. It’s definitely a double edged sword for me. I’m grateful my fifth graders don’t yet see AI as their friend. In my course I teach for the district, the number of teachers using it to respond to questions and craft responses that expect self-reflection, the ChatGPT responses stand out like a sore thumb. There’s a time in place for everything and it’s definitely not needed when we expect people to write from their hearts and minds.
Perfectly crafted tri cube, Scott!
Stacey, thanks for the prompt! Very quick and easy on a busy Monday morning. No time for waffles, but yours sound delicious.
“Brain Juice”
Hot coffee.
Must have it
Every day!
You smell that?
That’s coffee!
Fill ‘er up!
Cream? Sugar?
But of course.
Down the hatch!
By Shaun Ingalls
Hi, Shaun! we are thinking about the same today. I posted my tricubes awhile ago and came back to comment on a few. that coffee is a must, and I am a true believer!
Shaun,
Pure joy. “You smell that? / That’s coffee!” feels like someone practically bouncing into the room, and “Fill ’er up!” has that playful, morning-rally energy. It’s bright, rhythmic, and totally unpretentious—in the best way. You can feel the grin behind it.
Sarah
Hi Shaun,
I know the busyness of Mondays and I didn’t even get a chance to finish commenting yesterday.
As I sipped my brain juice right now on my way to work, I enjoyed reading your poem. Have a great day and thank you for writing with us.
I have hope in my self,
hope from my heart,
deep from the soul,
hope drives me to reach my goals,
hope helps my grow in dark world.
Hope is the thing with feathers that gives flight to anchors that held us back. I’m so glad you have it – hold on tight!
Bella, that is such a great poem. Your poem inspired me to open up, be vulnerable, and write about believing in myself.
Bella, having hope as the stem of each of these lines (and from which all else grows) is a beautiful structure choice. And that separation between my and self draws more attention to the self, as if you have more claim to it. Don’t let this go!
Bella,
Feels so earnest and heartfelt. “deep from the soul” carries such sincerity—you can really feel the desire to believe in something steady inside yourself. And “hope drives me to reach my goals” has that quiet determination in it, like even when the world feels dark, you’re choosing to keep moving toward light. There’s something very tender about that choice.
Sarah
Bella,
Beautiful! My heart is shouting Keep Hope Alive!
I’ve been writing tricubes for a few weeks since it was a Poetry Sisters challenge for January on Poetry Friday. A great form for capturing a single image. I smiled at your waffle poem, so evocative of syrup and butter.
I Believe in Morning
reflections
bayou glows
heron hunts
chickadee
dee-dee-dees
feeder swings
doodle curls
on my lap
All is well
Oh Margaret,
I love this morning for you.
These lines mad me smile:
And these lines gave me a sense of wonder and beauty:
Thank you for sharing the peace of your morning and transporting us to your bayou.
Those mornings are so much better with doodles in our laps, aren’t they? I know Albert believes in those mornings just as much as you do!
Margret, I love your poem about the morning! I am a morning person myself, and I also believe in the morning. Well done on your poem!
Ah! I see it well! Margaret – you make me want to plan a bayou trip. Here in New Jersey we are covered in snow!
Margaret, it was great to hear from you! I, too, love this poetry form for an opportunity to create brief sketches on various topics. Love the musicality of your words with rhythm, rhymes, and alliterations, especially those “chickadee” ones.
Margaret, This poem Is amazing It makes miss quite summer mornings at home with my dog.
Margaret,
Peaceful and rooted. “bayou glows / heron hunts” places us right there in that soft morning light, and I love how “chickadee / dee-dee-dees” brings in that gentle soundscape. Then ending with “doodle curls / on my lap / All is well” just wraps it in warmth—it’s like the world outside and the small comfort inside are perfectly in balance.
Hi Margaret,
I’m late commenting because yesterday was a full workday and the evening got crazy.
Thank you for sharing your tricube poem that helps me remember the joys of morning. (minus your feathered friends)😂 but I’ll take the doodle!
Stacey, thank you and Seana for hosting this week! I appreciated the forms and inspiration, and the opportunity to write with others. Oh, that syrup! Believing in waffles is believing in all the sweet goodness life offers on a plate! I saw The Wizard of Oz on Friday, and so many people in Las Vegas were out and about wearing sparkling red shoes – heels, Converse, flats, boots. It has me believing in the power of shoes to transport us to new places…..and of course, home again.
I Believe in Ruby Slippers
Dorothy
and Toto
a Wizard
a scarecrow
a tin man
a lion
in the Sphere!
L. Frank Baum
a classic!
One of my breakthrough books as a kid. I love The Wizard of Oz. I just finished The Antidote by Karen Russell. It’s an incredible read…The Wizard of Oz was one of her inspirations. You might like it. Its not a quick read though. I definitely slowed down for the lyrical writing.
Kim, I love the flow of your poem and how you used inspiration from the Wizard of Oz
Oh, Kim – my dear Aunt Jo loved Judy Garland and everything Wizard of Oz. Any mention of ruby slippers brings a smile to my face, remembering her. I will share your poem with my cousin, who will be so happy. Everyone should believe in Ruby slippers!
Oh, Kim — a fun burst of nostalgia. “Dorothy / and Toto” instantly pulls us into that magical world, and I love how you build the whole crew in just a few lines. And that shoutout to L. Frank Baum at the end feels like a joyful nod to the source—like you’re tipping your hat to the imagination that started it all. It’s playful, bright, and full of that ruby-slipper sparkle.
Hugs,
Sarah
How fun to see the Wizard of Oz in such an amazing venue! We all know the classic.
Thank you, Kim. I appreciate you.
Your poem is magical just like the Wizard of Oz. I love that you chose to write about it because it also shows me what we can do with our students using fiction as inspiration.
I believe in ruby slippers also.👠
Kim, oh I do love The Wizard of Oz, so much fun!
Stacey, thank you again for hosting and waking us up with a desire for warm, gooey waffles. I had to look back at my April tricube, which alone is a fun experience and a rabbit hole.
I Believe in Librarians
omnileg-
ent, well read
empathy
tsundoku
piles of books
banned prefered
biblio-
taph, hoarder
of love, life
Ahhh, Stefani! Absolutely love all the unusual words here that I feel I should already know as a bibliophile. I’m going to have to start dropping tsundoku and bibliotaph into my language so I remember them. As much fun as those words are, yours ring true – piles of books/banned preferred and hoarder/of love, life – and hold truth and beauty.
Stefani, librarians hold the keys to the universe and can solve all the problems of the world – I, too, believe in them! You’ve taken this form and a concept and put them together for the maximum enjoyment! Bibliotaph. Oh, to hoard love and life. Those are my people.
Stefani,
Love how your bold words show both what you’ve learned from and what you love about libraries.
Have you seen the documentary The Librarians. It’s a hard watch emotionally, but I highly recommend it. It’s about public school librarians dealing with right wing groups working to ban books. The level of hate and personal attacks is brutal. The integrity, perseverance and love and protection for their students is beautiful.
Stefani,
I love the energy in this one; it feels like a joyful tumble down that rabbit hole you mentioned. “omnileg- / ent, well read / empathy” is such a clever, affectionate way to describe them, and “piles of books / banned preferred” carries that quiet, rebellious pride librarians so often hold.
And that last turn “hoarder / of love, life” reframes the stereotype into something beautiful, like what they’re really collecting isn’t just books, but stories, connection, possibility. Yes.
Hugs,
Sarah
A wonderful tribute to librarians. I’ve recently used my librarian as a resource, and I feel they are so under appreciated. Great starting words!
Stef!!! Do you remember when I shared a prompt with beautiful and unusual words? I love this because there’s something fun, yet also thought provoking, when I learn these new words. May our world be filled with bibliotaphs!
❤️ ❤️
Stacey, thank you for returning us to this form. I’ve noticed writer-friends using it these past two days. Your poem is just lovely to awake to: waffles with their crisp edges and warm syrupiness – I must eat now!
The Power of Three
life cycle
be-mid-end
birth, life, death
measure time –
past, present
and future
triplings
emphasize
completion
Good morning Jennifer, what is it with 3? I find so many (too many?) groups of three. There must be some science or mysticism behind the power of three. I really enjoy the word “triplings” and how you’ve included it as well. Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer, I love looking for threes. I’m sure that there is some obsession with finding threes and that there is a name for it. Fairy tales, points in an outline, trimesters, Holy Trinity, and so much more. I’m with you, believing in the power of threes and seeking them.
clever! and, true.
Jennifer, I love the flow and sequence of your poem.
Lovely, Jennifer. I love how your form mirrors your function/meaning.
This really is what it’s all about:
This stanza is reminding me to focus on the big picture today. Thank you.
Jennifer, I love the flow of your poem and the literary devices you used in your poem. I also loved how it was clever!
Powerful tricube, Jennifer? The last stanza says it all.
triplings
emphasize
“be-mid-end” is such a compact, clever way to hold the whole arc of existence, and I love how you move from life cycle to time itself—past, present, future—like you’re widening the lens.
And that closing idea, “triplings / emphasize / completion,” feels quietly wise. There’s something satisfying about threes, and you capture that sense of wholeness without overexplaining it.
Nice.
Sarah
I’m loving this so much because with the heaviness around us, I keep leaning into the Holy Trinity. Thank you for this beautiful poem.
Good Morning! Apologies for my lack of feedback yesterday. Time simply got away from me. But, I have gone back to yesterday’s poems and feasted on the goodness there. I left a few comments.
I’m up at my regular time because my alarm woke me. But, no school! It’s another snow day. Wheeee! I’m feeling happy…and will until I need go out and shovel.
Five o’clock
wake-up time
No it’s not
winter winds
are blowing
It’s snowing!
School’s called off
look outside
Far and wide
It’s snowing!
It’s snowing!
It’s snowing!
Good morning Linda,
Doesn’t it often feel amazing to wake up early when we don’t have to go anywhere? And even better, when it’s a surprise? Enjoy the respite and stay warm! Thank you for sharing today.
The best gift ever! So happy for you and the non-wake up time. My favorite lines: winter winds/are blowing/It’s snowing! There is such joy in those 9 syllables. Happy snow day to you!
Awww, Linda! What a gift! The gift of time, a day to read, a day to stay in bed in the warmth of the covers. And stay in pajamas because no one will drop by. And eat hot soup. Oh, the list of things…..and a book…..Enjoy your snow day!
This prompt brings so much excitement and joy in this topic- sorry about the shoveling! I’m enjoying my delay couch coffee this morning.
Linda, your poem brings my inner child joy. The excitement of a snow day as a child is one you can not recreate.
Lucky you! Enjoy your snow day. Your poem seems like it should be on a Christmas card. Stay warm.❄️
Linda,
Love how the enthusiasm of the snow day pushes into its own fourth stanza, So appropriate for a day that breaks the rules. (I broke the length rule in my poem, too, but your rule-breaking feels more purposeful and restrained, In an exuberant way!)
Enjoy your snow day!
Yes – snow day for much of the northeast, me included! I love the joy of repetition in the last stanza.
The joy a snow day can bring to many, whether it’s children or adults. The day can bring anything for them, a day to sleep in or get things caught up.
Okay first of all—“Wheeee!” completely sets the tone. I can hear the grin.
There’s something so real about that 5 a.m. wake-up—“Five o’clock / wake-up time / No it’s not”—that little moment of confusion before the joy hits. And then the build! You move from practical observation (“winter winds / are blowing”) to full-on celebration.
And that ending repetition—“It’s snowing! / It’s snowing! / It’s snowing!”—feels like a kid pressing their face to the window. It’s playful, contagious, and totally earned. I also love that you admit the shovel reality in your intro—joy now, labor later.
Sarah
Oh, the joy of a snow day!!
But stay safe and warm during these crazy winter storms.
What a great form for celebrating a snow day. I can hear the last stanza increasing in volume.