This is the Open Write, a place for educators to nurture their writing lives and to advocate for writing poetry in community. We are here every month. The next Open Write is November 15-17.
Our Host
Kim Johnson lives on a farm and is the District Literacy Specialist for Pike County Schools in Zebulon, Georgia. She is the author of Father, Forgive Me: Confessions of a Southern Baptist Preacher’s Kid (Tate Publishing, 2012); and a contributing author of Words that Mend: The Transformative Power of Writing Poetry for Teachers, Students, and Community Wellbeing (Seela Books, 2024) and two other books written with EthicalELA writers. She blogs daily at www.kimhaynesjohnson.com.
Inspiration
I subscribe to Poetry, the periodical published by The Poetry Foundation that features modern-day poets and their poems. I enjoy the inspiration that I find here – seed starters of ideas, borrowed lines, concepts, and forms. Such was the case when I stumbled across Magic 8 Ball by Nicole Gonzalez. You can read her poem below, noting the questions she asks, with those classic 8-ball answers that pop up in a black-liquid window, sharing all the truths and secrets of universe.
Magic Eight Ball | The Poetry Foundation
Process
Consider the 12 Magic 8 Ball answers below. Use the responses to craft a poem with questions followed by these answers. Your poem can be humorous, serious, or completely random. You may choose to use all of the responses below, some of them or your own responses, or the same response every time (like a broken Magic 8 Ball to incorporate repetition). You could even make it a fun game by writing your list of questions on one side, writing the answers on strips of paper, and then pulling the answers from a hat to make the poetry writing experience feel extra-magical today.
Concentrate and ask again
Outlook not so good
Very doubtful
Without a doubt
Better not tell you now
My sources say no
It is decidedly so
Ask again later
Yes definitely
My reply is no
Cannot predict now
You may rely on it
Kim’s Poem
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 used the online Magic 8 Ball generator for my questions.
8 Magical Questions for a Sunday Night
By Mo Daley 10/19/25
Is there a yoga class available tonight?
It is certain.
Do you need a ride to the airport?
Signs point to yes.
Will this new furnace be installed today?
Yes.
Will Freeway ever stop chewing his leg?
Outlook good.
Should I go gray?
Concentrate and ask again.
Is 3:30 a.m. my new wakeup time?
Very doubtful.
Will November be calmer than October?
My reply is no.
Can I get a glass of red?
Can’t predict now.
No,
I had no clue there’s a Magic Eight Ball generator. I do think that November question and answer will prove true, and that scares me!
Mo, very fun poem! The randomness feels like the strange ways we encounter issues throughout the day. The should I go gray question is a big one!!
Kim,
Thanks for hosting. This is a fun prompt I think teens would enjoy. I love the use of songs and those age old questions in life. I decide to leverage classic advertising campaigns for my poem.
Magic Eight Ball Ad Campaign
Is botox right for you?
Very doubtful.
Got milk?
Yes definitely.
Are you lovin’ it?
My sources say no.
Is a diamond forever?
You may rely on it.
Does Hoover beat as it sweeps as it cleans?
Ask again later.
Can we just do it?
Concentrate and ask again.
Does Dos Equis make the most interesting man in the world?
Outlook not so good.
Can you hear me now?
My reply is no.
You’re not you when you’re hungry, are you?
Cannot predict now.
Does anything come between you and your Calvin Kleins?
Better not tell you now.
Does the buck stop here?
Without a doubt.
Glenda, I like the advertising campaigns ~ so many fun twists on this today, and I love the way your poem takes us back in time to some of those familiar and popular questions of the day. I love the Calvin Klein question and answer. Each of the answers fits the question so well, and the nuances are perfect. Love this!
Glenda, I didn’t even think about questions in ads, but you worked those in so well. “Got milk?” is, probably, the first one I remember from the first year in States. Thank you for the reminders.
What a great approach to this prompt, Glenda! I like how you’ve cleverly paired the questions and answers. Can you hear me now seems like an important question to ask right now.
Glenda, clever take on the advertising campaign questions. I recognized some of them, but who knew there were so many. You got me engaged right out of the gate with the botox question! So fun!
Glenda, your marvelous wit resonates throughout this poem! I love how you answered the questions and the Canva is clever. So many humorous lines! I especially enjoyed Dos Equis!
Within Without
Without a doubt,
Without a sound,
There is no doubt, about,
Where without is found.
A broken crescent,
A broken stone,
there is only broken,
Being without and alone.
No swing or flowers,
No spring showers,
Without,
A heart sours.
Without love,
Without us,
Without is low,
Without above.
Yet,
Without the words,
Without the choice
No one hears,
Without a voice.
Without the course,
Without the pain,
Without each other,
Without remains.
So embrace the Within,
Embrace blessings of sin,
for within, is where we all begin,
and within, is where we will all end.
Boxer
Clayton, the title is perfect and sets your poem up for the repetition, with rhyme being an added trademark Boxer Moon technique.
Boxer, I read and reread your poem several times. What a rhythm in your snappy lines. You’ve explored “within without” quite thoroughly here. I love these lines, their rhyme, flow, and meaning:
“Without the words,
Without the choice
No one hears,
Without a voice.”
The ending speaks wisdom.
Fall?
Is summer coming to an end?
Cannot predict now.
Will the temperature finally drop below 80 degrees?
Very doubtful.
Are the leaves going to change color?
Outlook not so good.
Can I finally wear my sweaters and pants?
Better not tell you now.
Is if fall time?
My reply is no.
Grace,
You’ve captured the fickle weather perfectly. Fall can’t decide if it wants to arrive here in Ohio either. The temperature has been like a roller coaster. Frost in the evening the up to seventy or eight during the day. Makes it hard to figure out what to wear.
Grace, you capture so succinctly the anticipation of fall and the letdown when it keeps on not getting here on schedule. A favorite time of year for us all – – and what a wonderful feeling when that crisp in the cool air finally prevails.
Grace,
You know my struggles! I have a hoodie on from morning until around 11a.m. Then I need a swimsuit! It’s insane. Something about these lines really make me think about the effects of climate change:
Grace, your 8 ball doesn’t lie! “Is it fall time? / My reply is no.” So true! Hopefully the fall will come soon. Thank you for crafting and sharing this!
Future Fitness
Will I ever go back to the gym? Concentrate and ask again
When will that ache in my neck go away? Outlook not so good
Should I keep the too-small corduroy pants I love? Very doubtful
Should I order that tiramisu for dessert? Without a doubt
Will the new cholesterol drugs have side effects? Better not tell you now
Can I still eat the occasional In-N-Out cheeseburger? My sources say no
Will I still eat the occasional In-N-Out cheeseburger? It is decidedly so
If I try to run another 5K, will I suffer another knee injury? Ask again later
Is it better to stick to indoor cycling? Yes definitely
What if I sign up for the cross-fit class on Wednesdays? My reply is no
Is it even worth it to keep my monthly gym membership? Cannot predict now
Is having a gym membership giving me false hope? You may rely on it
Oh, Shaun, you had me laughing at the get go. I can understand that lack of desire to go to the gym once the body aches too often.
I adored the questions: Should I keep the too-small corduroy pants I love? Very doubtful
Should I order that tiramisu for dessert? Without a doubt
The false hope at the end is priceless! Thanks for the smiles!
lol. Loved this! Relatable.
Shaun, the clever play on CAN I and WILL I in lines 6, 7 is really fun here – – just like the play between keeping the corduroy pants and eating the tiramisu. I also like that the Magic 8 Ball says no to signing up for the cross-fit class. That’s my kind of answer giver for sure.
I love this!! I think most of us have wrestled with many of these questions, but the answers you provide are just great!
Shaun, I second firm yes to that tiramisu! Many people who I know have gym membership are asking similar questions. We even bought a professional-grade tread mill, the best there was on the market at the time–poor thing is still sitting in our living room with minimal use. Your poem today is so relevant. Thank you!
Shaun, this is so relatable! I especially like when you change the In-N-Out from “can” to “will.” So good!
Shaun,
I can totally relate to your fitness frustration. These lines really had me laughing —
“Can I still eat the occasional In-N-Out cheeseburger? My sources say no
Will I still eat the occasional In-N-Out cheeseburger? It is decidedly so.” — been there!
Shaun,
I love this because it reminds me of the pre-New Year commercials for everything fitness and health. By March, everyone is back to their old habits and gyms are no longer crowded. I hope you do what’s best for you. Only you know, not the Magic 8 Ball😁
Kim, your poem is fun, and I appreciate the questions you weaved throughout it from films and songs. Thanks for providing today’s prompt.
After Watching an AI Video and Feeling Dumped On (IYKYK)
Can we escape his madness?
Don’t count on it.
Should we flee to the border?
My sources say no.
Will tomorrow be any better?
Reply hazy, try again.
Is there a shred of hope we can survive?
Outlook not so good.
Is the Kool-Aid spiked?
As I see it, yes.
Should I build a bunker?
Yes−definitely.
Barb Edler
19 October 2025
Barb, I am feeling the angst and frustration here in your lines and I think my two favorite are the last two stanzas – – I can see it now. Spiked Kool-Aid down in the bunker. I definitely do hope that tomorrow is a better day for us and that there are shreds of hope for survival.
Ugh: Drumpf can dump all he wants: it won’t quell anything. He’s already dumping on us every day; what’s the difference? Keep the faith; loved your poem. ❤️🇺🇸
Barb, I hear your concerns. I do want to believe we have hope, at least as long as we care, read, write, and share. Hopefully, we each taught our kids to do the same, so traditions will carry on. Thank you!
Barb — Nodding my head YES to these stanzas:
“Is the Kool-Aid spiked?
As I see it, yes.”
and
“Should I build a bunker?
Yes−definitely.”
I’m righ there with you!
Barb,
I finished reading Nexus this morning and have AI and its threats on my mind, so your poem really hits a nerve for me today. We are living in the age of cringe.
I stand in frustration with you. I have a friend who relocated to Mexico. Her videos of her new life with her twins and husband really make me think there’s hope on the OTHER side of the U.S. borders. Thank you, Barb. We have each other.
Oh, my gosh, Barb. IYKYK – I do, and I’m struck by the continued audacity that keeps fueling our despair. Unbelievable. Now go read or reread Wendy’s poem. Keep fighting!
Kim — Thank you for your very fun prompt and your poem. “Will Berkenstocks ever be sexy?” gave me a chuckle.
Before and After the No KINGS Rally
Before
Is kindness truly dead?
Concentrate and ask again?
Can we make whole what is divided?
Outlook today is not so good.
Will all our voices be heard,
all our stories be told?
Very doubtful.
Will resurgence of disease take us out?
Without a doubt.
Will we disgorge credit-card size
plastic from our bodies?
Better not tell you now.
Is AI the next Sky Net?
Ask again later.
After
Did millions rally to foment hatred
Against America?
My firstand source – me – says no
Is there still hope?
It is decidedly so
Is kindness dead?
My reply is no
Is there still hope?
Yes, I believe so.
Will resistance kill tyranny?
You may rely on it.
Tammi, I’m feeling your vibe in your first stanza, and I appreciate the hope that is offered in the second stanza. I thought the question: Will we disgorge credit-card size
plastic from our bodies? was particularly alarming. We are living in a different world, and your poem effectively captures several of these dilemmas. Powerful!
Tammi, I am seeing such a common theme today on the heels of No Kings Day and the demonstrations around our country. What is most prevalent to me is the sense of hope that still prevails in all of today’s poems. The 8 Ball seems to symbolize the uncertainty and anxiety in our current state of affairs. I like what you have done here with the two parts.
Tammi, loved this! Fight on!
Needed this hopefulness, Tammi!
I really like
Tammi, so many poems today are asking about hope. Our time is certainly full of huge troubles, and I want to believe in human goodness so much. But Kindness is alive and so is hope. Thank you for this!
Kim, this was a lot of fun. Yes, I remember playing with the Magic Eight Ball with friends. Usually asking about the future of relationships. Thanks for unearthing these memories.
Magic Eight Ball Poem
On this quiet afternoon sitting on the back porch I’m writing, Collins is reading and Lucky is chewing on a stick. I can hear the wind chimes and the sound of my neighbor watering his yard along our fence. Here are a few thoughts running through my head.
When do you think it will rain again? Better not tell you now.
I wonder what my neighbor thinks of our new puppy, Lucky. Cannot predict now.
Was I surprised when Collins shared the story he was reading? Yes definitely.
I’m curious if Rachel’s new restaurant will be successful. Without a doubt.
How long before I’ll need to to wear socks and a sweater? Better not tell you now.
Jamie, I love how your poem pulled me into a realistic scene and the way it shows the connections the speaker makes while enjoying the quiet afternoon. I particularly enjoyed the question and answers of your last two lines.
Jamie, that last line and answer is just perfect – – along with the wondering of rain, the puppy and neighbor, and the story and food…..all of these lines bring a feeling of the relaxed pace of sitting on the back porch without a predominant feel of stress or anxiety. The wind chimes add a harmony to the mood. I like this blood pressure-reducing pace.
I felt like I was right there with you, Jamie. I love how these questions and answers can accomplish so much as far as setting a scene.
Oh, I LOVE this prompt as a 90s kid who probably based too many life decisions on a Magic 8 Ball and a tiny deck of Tarot Cards, this is brilliant. I love your pop culture references to go along with it, too! Can you milk a cat, Greg? Classic and very fun.
The Magic 8 Ball I’m Going to Hand my Toddler the Next Time He Asks “Why?”
My sources say it’s not Halloween yet.
Because there are 12 more sleeps.
It is decidedly so.
My reply is no.
Because Kit Kat bars are for after naps.
Concentrate on where your feet are going
Because you could get hurt
Because corners are sharp
Ask again later.
Because I don’t want you to get hurt
Because I love you
Without a doubt.
Because you are lovable.
You may rely on it.
Because you say things like
“Isn’t it so nice of the moon to shine on us right now?”
Emily,
Love your twist of perspective: parent to toddler.
Such a sweet poem.
What a fantastic ending!
Love that toddler gratitude!
That toddler voice is captured so eloquently in the one end of the conversation of the poem – – it’s what we don’t hear on the question end that makes it so appealing and endearing – – the constant questions and the relentless quest for understanding by the toddler. That is the kind of curiosity and love of learning that is so precious at that age – – and requires such patience at times! I like that you wrote yours from this perspective today.
Emily, I love the conversation you share with your toddler. I love the way you blend the responses into the conversation. There is humor at the start explaining time til Halloween and when to eat candy. So much caring about – Concentrate on where your feet are going and Because I don’t want you to get hurt. And I absolutely love your closing words – Because you say things like
“Isn’t it so nice of the moon to shine on us right now?” All so special and lovely memories.
Ahhh, Emily, this is precious. I particularly enjoyed the last line. Precious!
Oh, so loving and caring, Emily:
“Because I don’t want you to get hurt
Because I love you
Without a doubt.”
The final two lines made me smile. This kid is brilliant.
Kim, this prompt may me think of the hop-scotch we used to dol “Yes, No, Maybe So!”
Concentrate and ask again
No more questions now. I’m concentrating on this poem.
Outlook not so good
My ever being young looking again
Very doubtful
That I’ll dye my hair to hide the gray
Without a doubt
I’m this age and here to stay
Better not tell you now.
Why I’m so happy and ready to bow.
My resources say no
So, this time I won’t go.
It is decidedly so
Yes, my answer for now is no.
Okay, ask again later
But leave me alone now
And the prospect will be greater
My reply may then be, “yes”.
Cannot predict now, I don’t know how
You may rely on it. I’ll give it a try.
Bye, now!
Anna, I don’t remember that particular variation of hopscotch, but we played and played and played at recess, drawing a new board on the blacktop anytime it rained. First grade through fifth, I played on the same playground and have such vivid memories of that time in my life. You help me remember them today. I am loving your references to the gray hair – – and in this age, being here to stay – – from hopscotch to hair, here we are in all our glory, friend!
Anna,
I love the way your poem has the rhythm of a hopscotch chant. It was relatable and fun to read!
Anna, I like the connection to hopscotch with the accompanying illustration. I like how you finish each sentence of the Magic 8 Ball. I especially like the age and hair verse in a proud way!
Thanks, Kim, for this fun prompt.
I liked recognizing some of your allusions and wondering about the origins of other questions. “Are we going to need a bigger boat?” made me laugh. Good question, Kim.
This morning I wrote two quick drafts, one with questions about my life and one with questions from the novel I’m reading and loving, Ian McEwan’s new novel, What Can We Know. Then I headed out to Commons Ford to help lead a youth and family bird walk for Travis Audubon. As I drove, I thought about and played songs with questions.
Radio Remix
Do you really want to live forever? Forever young?
Are you under the impression this isn’t your life?
You know I hate to ask but are friends electric?
Should I stay here at the zoo or leave and change my point of view?
I was in a car crash or was it the war?
What’s the frequency Kenneth?
Will the radio relay towers lead me to my baby?
Tonight can you get us a ride?
Do you want to take the long cut?
I think that’s what we need
Radio Remix Playlist
Sharon, what a treat to hear the playlist you made – – I am a fan! Love Alphaville and Bruce Springsteen! Such memories there in those songs. Your title here shows a good mashup of lyrics into a poem, and it has its own fresh melody – – unique, one-of-a-kind, and so creative. I like when poetry and questions make us think in so many directions as you did today from your novel to the drive to a bird walk. Your poem is amazing, and so is your taste in music!
Sharon,
Love your radio mix up and all your great questions. Your first two questions “Do you really want to live forever? and Forever Young” had me thinking about that Highlander movie from the 80’s with Christopher Lambert (I’m really dating myself) and Queen “Who Wants to Live Forever?”
I enjoyed trying to guess the songs or the novel, and the final decision to take the long way home, possibly to listen to more tunes or think about your book some more! A lovely tribute to the thinking power of driving in your car alone for a bit!
Sharon, a special thank you for the playlist. I recognized most of the songs from your poem, but didn’t know the a couple. The final three lines fit together seamlessly and make so much sense:
“Tonight can you get us a ride?
Do you want to take the long cut?
I think that’s what we need”
Kim, this is a wildly fun prompt, and I am enjoying the different directions in which poets are running with it. I had a Magic 8 Ball as a child and it got me thinking about other magical things in my childhood…of course each has its own story, but I went with this for today. How I love your always-creative brain!
Magic Lessons
These were
the magical objects
of my childhood:
a rabbit’s foot
(dyed turquoise)
the fortune teller
miracle fish
(a bit of flat
blue cellophane
curling to life
in my palm)
an 8 Ball
(is she really
my friend?)
(reply hazy,
try again)
and
the Ouija Board
(both grandmothers
said
don’t do it
don’t do it)
Eventually
the rabbit’s foot
taught me
repentance
(all
those
countless
footless
bunnies)
the miracle fish
(miraculously
obtained
by a carnival
grab bag)
taught me to
expect
the unexpected
the 8 Ball
taught me
to NOT
rely on it
and
the Ouija Board
taught me
mortal terror
(running
for my life)
Good Bye
magic
nevermore
forevermore
(except for
books)
I love how this flows as conversational with self. Ahhh yes the ouija board… many a sleepover with that one. Fun take on the different luck and fortunes. How rich. Thanks for sharing.
Fran, we are of the same generation – same exact toys, but my fish was red and slipped into its cellophane sleeve. I want to hear about this Ouija run-for-your-life…..we had one too but we never conjured anything despite all our trying. And those mood rings too were pretty fascinating, as if I needed help figuring out my mood or showing it. I like how you share all of these magical toys of childhood of the generation we both enjoyed in the best growing up years ever. And the end – – leaving the magic in the books – – where it is more real than anywhere else. Wait, and you had a pet ghost, too, as I recall……
Mood rings! How could I forget? I even had one with my astrological sign in it. That mail-order ghost was SUCH a disappointment, ha. Stay tuned for the true & terrifying tale of the Ouija Board 😬🫣
Fran,
I love the story you tell with each of these items and how each of these items taught you a lesson. I felt the same about those Ouji Boards, and they still give me the creeps.
Fran,
You brought me right back to childhood. I never had any of these cool fortune-telling objects, but it seemed like amongst my friends, someone always had one for me to admire.
Your poem brought me back to the feel of “the miracle fish,” tickling my palm.
Thanks for jolting me back to childhood.
Fran, this is a great poem remembering the magic of times long ago. I have not thought of the Ouija board or those rabbit feet or even the Magic 8 ball in many many years.
I love the story you tell – more than remembrances, these are each a little lesson about learning to rely on yourself and accepting what comes your way. Also, shoutout to the magic in books!! Very cool set-up and I love the skinny form.
Fran, I love the way your poem examines various superstitious behaviors and what they taught you, and I can relate the Ouija Board terrors. I have often felt a desire for a thing to be lucky. Unfortunately, I can’t say I ever have. Love your ending!
I love your take on this, Fran. You always go deeper and come up with gems! This is lovely – such wonderful images!
Fran, thank you for sharing your experiences with magic objects. They taught you quite a few things. I love the ending of your poem:
Good Bye
magic
nevermore
forevermore
(except for
books)
I am sticking with books too.
#nokings2025
October, 2024: Will democracy hang in the balance?
Better not tell you now
November, 2024: Will good triumph?
Outlook not so good
December, 2024: What will the future hold?
Cannot predict now
January, 2025: Will my rights be safe?
My sources say no
February, 2025: Will my students be ok?
Very doubtful
March, 2025: Will our country be in a better place?
My reply is no
April, 2025: Can I help?
Concentrate and ask again
May, 2025: How can I keep my spirits up?
Ask again later
June, 2025: Can we rally and regroup?
Yes definitely
July, 2025: Do we dare have faith in the future?
You may rely on it
August, 2025: Do people have the power?
It is decidedly so
September, 2025: Can we take our country back?
Without a doubt
Wendy, I like the shift in the hope that comes midway through your poem – – like the night giving way to sunrise. You creatively and cleverly added a timeline, suggesting how the questions have changed over time through lived experience along the timeline of events. I like the way you did that! Hope lives.
Love the momentum of this poem, Wendy. The call and response of the form really we works with your subject of our country wellbeing building toward hope grounded in something viable, the evidence of yesterday.
A timeline is a wonderful way of approaching the prompt, Wendy! I especially love “Can I help?” – a question for all time, any time – and the 8 Ball’s “advice” to concentrate and ask again. Much in that, truly.
The flow is great and also resembles how you would ask the magic ball again and again the question in different ways, looking for the answers you want to be real. Love this with the months too. Great piece thanks for sharing, write on
Wendy,
As I read your time line, I felt my emotions returning to each of these months, when I was asking many of the same questions. I love watching the questions transition from concern, “Will my students be okay?” to action, “Can I help?”
Thank you for your powerful, inspirational ending?
Yes, we can!
I love the final rally cry and how you built your questions along the way, growing from doubt to envisioning the positive.
Wendy, Some of your responses send a chill through me, while others a ring of hope.
I’m glad you are feeling more optimistic – June, 2025: Can we rally and regroup?
Yes definitely
August, 2025: Do people have the power?
It is decidedly so
September, 2025: Can we take our country back?
Without a doubt
I spent the day on the streets in Austin yesterday – largest crowd so far and many more young people. I continue to stand on the side of hope for what is right.
Jamie, so heartening! We were about 10,000 strong here in Syracuse, NY. Resist!
Wendy, this is amazing! I love how you went by months. It was such a captivating way to write the poem.
Wendy, I read your poem as a chronological map–such a clever decision to show the movement from things that are hopeless to the ones that give us hope.
Wendy — I like the way your poem progresses through the months and the hopefullness at the end. You and I were thinking the same thing today.
As others have said, the calendar structure using the response options reflects truth and hope! This would be an interesting structure to offer students to respond to a text or film the class us reading or viewing together . How consistent would their responses be? What references in the text or film would they site? Hmmm. I might try this one myself? Thanks for demonstrating the effectiveness of this option.
OH, Wendy! Hooray! This is so hopeful. I want it to be published in a newspaper somewhere. Maybe in a letter to the editor. It really is spectacular!
Wendy, I applaud your poem and its ending! Yes, we need to take our country back and look out for our students! Thanks for your powerful voice!
My friend, Kim, this was fun. Your poem made me laugh and also concerned. Perfect!! I love the many ways I wanted to go with your prompt. I think my sister and I played with our Magic 8 Ball as kids more than normal. 🤣 Now, I guess kids use the online ball. I tried it and then wrote a Golden Shovel.
Ask and It Shall Be Given
I ask a Magic 8 Ball instead of seeking God’s Will
wondering if retirement will bring me the peace and joy I
seek. Ask if I will be able to live
in comfort. My former years were hard. They better
not be easier than my latter. I need each day to flow in
sync like buttercups know to blossom. Let new paths open my
eyes to God’s plans for me. To prosper me in my latter
days. To bless my life for the rest of my years.
I pray and toss the Magic 8 Ball in the trash where It
belongs. God responds, “Trust Him,” and that is
What I do. Will I live better in my latter years? “It is decidedly
So.”
ⓒStacey L. Joy, 10/19/25
Stacey, loved your faith-filled Golden Shovel! <3
Stacey, way to craft your own answers and make it happen! I like the throwing away of this ball – God is truly the only one with the answers, all Glory be to Him. I, too, ask myself the questions of retirement – – it’s three days wanting, one day not and the cycle repeats. Am I needing something new, or am I disillusioned with the state of education? Am I tired of the world? What do I have to offer next? Those are my questions too. You are the queen of the golden shovel, my friend! And I love your Canva.
Perfect topic for this one, Stacey, and I am drawing on your wondering for myself as this sabbatical is a version of retirement for me and Dan’s actual. That part about “need each day to flow in sync like buttercups known to blossom” is a novel simile and so apt. And that last phrase is a perfect combination of faith and will. I am finding more of the will to be a factor day to day. Hugs. And thank you for this.
Stacey, your golden shovel is a masterpiece. That question in the strike line is one we all want answered “decidedly so.” Yes, in seeking God’s will and blessing in life through prayer, decidedly so! About tossing the 8 Ball in the trash – I threw away a Ouija Board when I was a child because it terrified the living hell out of me. Short version: Lesson learned! Speaking of blessing… know that you ARE one 🙂
Stacey,
I like your shift from the Magic 8 Ball to God and the way your title and first line prepare us for that shift, but how “toss[ing] the Magic 8 Ball in the trash where It
belongs” still surprised me.
Cheers to a “decidedly/So” better retirement!
I retired this summer and am loving it!
Last school year, I had so many questions: was it the right time for me to retire, would I still have a sense of purpose in retirement, would I still feel connected to my school community? Now a few months later, I can answer all of them with a resounding yes. Glad I made the leap.
Stacey, I love your Canva production and am amazed how you could tie in a Golden Shovel poem with this prompt. I am sure your retirement will be blessed. It’s all with what you do with the new life you can lead. I love how you witness your faith in this poem!
I do love how you take the time to create an image with your poem. Your poem says a lot about who you trust for the Big questions of life. Your faith will lead you in the next part of life as it has always.
Stacey, you are the Queen of Golden Shovel as I already mentioned a few times, and you are getting better and better at it. This one is just perfect. I love your need to have purpose in daily experiences:
“I need each day to flow in
sync like buttercups know to blossom.”
You truly deserve the best life in your latter years–“It is decidedly so.”
Stacey beautiful. This phrase has me smiling, “to flow in / sync like buttercups know to blossom” I love the answer “It is decidedly so,” and it sounds like an answer from God.
Hi Kim! I love this prompt! It had me thinking, writing, and revising this morning. What a great way to wake up my brain! Thank you!
Who am I & Why am I here?
What is the meaning of life?
Concentrate and ask again
Is there something rather than nothing?
It is certain
What happens when we die?
Outlook good
Do we have free will?
My sources say yes
Can I live a good life?
It is decidedly so
Does my life have purpose?
Most likely
Will I be missed when I am gone?
As I see it, yes
What makes me truly happy?
Cannot predict now
Am I a good friend?
You may rely on it
Who am I, really?
Ask again later
Would my 10-year-old self be proud of me today?
Without a doubt
What is the meaning of life?
Better not tell you now
I’m always looking for something to wake my brain, and this one did. I understand now more than ever the need to think through things with a slice of difference and puzzlement. I like the way you asked if you’d be missed when you are gone. I made a commitment when Dad died to get all the kids together more often so we could make plenty of memories, and I think your question there is one that has been on my mind in that way, too. We just never know, and the memories are what matter. Thank you for asking that question today.
I still remember the stories you told about Felix. I was in St. Simon’s this summer and thought of him. And I smiled at myself – “I’m thinking about someone I didn’t even know!” BUT I knew him through YOUR stories! Maybe that’s the meaning of life – stories that connect!
This was a joy of contemplation for me. That “will I be missed” gave me a twinge, a tear even. I was surprised by how that line affected me. And that last line is a perfect non-closure.
Thank you. I found an old journal entry yesterday that I wrote when I was 53 (16 years ago). Time marches on and I have the same questions – Will I be missed? is top on my list because I have no children, no grandchildren. Most of my friends are my age or older than me – so I ask myself a lot – am I making a mark – am I leaving a trace of good?
What a great application of the prompt, Joanne! Those age-old questions in the title…humans have always wanted to know the answers. I am thinking about the interplay what makes me happy/cannot predict now. Truth. Sometimes what we think makes us happy in fact does not. Those last two lines are haunting. But. I believe that will be answered for us, someday 🙂
Poetry and connection are probably top on the list in the “What is the meaning of life?” answer! For me, at least.
So many of the big questions. The ones I was writing and thinking about before I wrote today’s response. I like that you started and ended with the same questions and had a different response. I guess we are making that one up as we go along. I found this question provocative – Is there something rather than nothing? It is certain . I was happy to hear this – Do we have free will? My sources say yes – It was clear your brain was waking up. Sounds like a fun place to be.
Joanne, I love the repetition of the first line at the end. I appreciate that you might actually discover the meaning of life due to the answer. Your questions are large and provocative. What happens when we die, is surely the ultimate question I often wonder about, especially now when time is running out. Fantastic Magic 8 Ball poem!
You jumped right into the deep water with these questions. I’m happy the answers you got were hopeful for the most part. I do wonder about being missed. Today we were talking about golden birthdays and I had the realization that I will not likely be around for my granddaughter’s golden birthday at age 30. I’ll be 90. And do I even want to live that long?
This is such a great way to use the prompt. These questions can resonate with everyone who reads this!
Joanne, I love the start and end with that big question! I like the answer “concentrate and ask again” too. It looks like you had fun with these!
Interesting concept today. As an aside, we have a group of science teachers who make public predictions for snow days and one of them uses a magic8 ball. Fun
8ball
Anxiety
is
the
“Maybe”
that
appears
with
every
shake
of
the
ball.
Oh! love this and can relate. I remember using the magic 8 ball with my cousins in a dark room and the anxiety was palpable.
Ohhh, love this! I actually felt a little icky after seeing the response when I used the digital Magic 8 Ball. smh!
C.O., the Magic 8 Ball is probably the most accurate weather predictor of all. I like the way you put each word on a line, stringing the anxiety to the very end and adding to the nailbiting effect. My husband just told me I might need to bring the plants in tonight for 40s and windchills in the 30s, but thanks to you I’m going to ask the 8 ball to figure it out for me.
I have always thought that weather predictors used some sort of a “roll the dice” method and NOW you are assuring me that those days when 8 inches impaired my driving rather than the 2 -3 inches predicted were the responsibility of someone with a Magic 8 ball. SIGH. Thanks, I think.
C.O., I am with you, those “maybe”s don’t help at all. I asked two questions today, and the first one came with “It probably won’t work right now,” while the other was straight “No.” Talk about anxiety. Thank you for sharing.
Good Morning, Kim! Thank you for such a fun prompt. I love this question and response from your poem: “Does the hand that rocks the cradle rule the world? / It is decidedly so.”
I started with some serious questions, but they all felt so hopeless and depressing for Sunday morning, so I made another attempt.
Magic 8 Ball Asserts
Will tomorrow smell like rain?
Cannot predict now.
May I catch a joyful cloud?
It is decidedly so.
Should I play with words more?
Without a doubt.
Does our puppy love me more?
My sources say no.
Will I step on that rake again?
Outlook not so good.
Do flowers listen better than people?
You may rely on it.
Should I have another cup of coffee?
Yes, definitely.
Should I check news first or let the nature speak?
Ask me later.
Will I ever stop asking?
Very doubtful.
Leilya, I just brewed my second cup of the morning and sat down to read a few more delightful poems – – and I laughed out loud at that rake. An unexpected laugh like that is simply the best – – very much the technique I think Billy Collins urges when he tells us we should bring in a spider……the spider being something so unexpected that kind of steals the show. Let’s just say your rake line steals the show for me……I hope you didn’t get hurt. And I also hope we never, ever stop asking.
Leilya, I am in firm agreement that flowers listen better. One of my students did an experiment talking to three different plants – one not at all, one spoken to negatively, and one spoken to encouragingly. The results were interesting. (Another student breaths carbon dioxide onto the same plant when we walk each morning). They love to connect to nature – we need to let nature speak more often.
I love the theme of this poem centering on nature. Your last two questions were the best way to end the poem. I would definitely put nature before news!
Leilya,
I like how playful your questions are:
Cheers to
Should I play with words more?
and
and
Will I ever stop asking?
Very doubtful.
Leilya, I absolutely appreciate the fun nature of your poem today! Definitely, whenever it is the question, have another cup of coffee!!!
Leilya, what a delightful poem you have created. I love your questions, especially “May I catch a joyful cloud?” Lovely! Your end is perfectly delivered, too. Marvelous poem!
Leilya,
I absolutely love your questions, especially these two “Will tomorrow smell like rain?” and “Do flowers listen better than people?” Your poem reminds me to appreciate the beauty in nature.
Leilya, your questions seem like a dance in nature. I love the playfulness of the questions you chose. I especially like the last one, with just the right answer.
Leilya,
Lots of fun questions here. Definitely choose nature and talking to flowers. And watch out for that rake!
Magic 8 Ball: Writing Teacher’s Edition
I know there are
twenty possible
“answers,” but it
seems to me, (if
this past batch
of essays is
any indication)
I only need one:
As I see it, yes
_________________________________________
Thank you for this blast from the past, Kim! I laughed out loud at several of your lines, especially the “Will Birkenstocks ever be sexy? / Outlook not so good.” LOL! (Here’s the link for the online Magic 8 Ball that I used.)
Scott, yes – -that’s the best answer of all. I’m glad you shared the link to the 8 Ball you found. Your title shows the power of how a title can work to set the stage where the writer is free to bring all experience, all life, all thought and story to the essay, where there are no wrong answers. That one answer is t-shirt worthy as a standalone line. Imagine walking through a crowd in that shirt and the expressions…..like an exercise in psychology. Ha!
Scott, this is a great resource. I just asked your link if I should go for a walk before it rains and the answer was, “As I see it, yes.” I look forward to sharing this site with my grandsons who are reluctant writers and yet lovers of computer generated answers!
Scott, your title is spot on–love “Writing Teacher’s Edition.” Unfortunately, we often know without the magic ball who uses AI to produce their work. I’ve never used the magic 8 ball until today, so I had my share of excitement and disappointment. It reminded me what my husband sometimes says: “Don’t ask if you don’t want to hear the answer.”
Kim, what a fun idea – one that kids would totally get into! Absolutely love the way you spun pop culture into philosophical questions. To make any sense of my poem today, you’d have to ask the question – What happens when the writer wakes early, begins a prompt yet is still so exhausted that she falls asleep in the middle, only to wake after two hours to finish?
Essential Questions From Childhood Beyond
(You May Rely On It)
What happened to the chicken who crossed the road
or the flying pig?
(Outlook not so good)
Did the chicken come before the egg?
(Very doubtful)
Did hell freeze over?
(Without a doubt)
Is 6 better than 7?
(Why, just why)
Do you know what I mean?
(My sources say no)
Can you hear me now?
(Why should I answer when you’re going to ask again)
Where’s the beef?
(Seriously)
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
(Cannot predict now, I’m too busy licking)
Should I sleep in the letters of the alphabet?
Speak with the photos from my past?
What color is the sound of children weeping?
The scent of midnight?
Why do violets sing so only bees can hear?
Do I dare to eat a Prufrock peach?
Compare thee to a summer’s day?
(Let me count the ways)
Jennifer, to start writing, sleep, and wake up writing has got to be the best way to begin a day ever. You’re surrounded by poetry in streams of consciousness and states of awareness. Some of your questions can only come from deep within – – like the violet and the bees and the licks of a Tootsie Pop (I can hear the owl on the commercial counting)….I like the randomness of it all and the way you blend it to the final response. Side note: at one of our schools, the teachers pick a Halloween theme each year and dress. This year, they chose 6,7 and will all dress with either a 6 or a 7. It’s funny how one little response can go so viral, and you capture it here even in the depths of the black ink of a Magic 8 Ball.
Morning, Jennifer! I can relate to waking up too early to complete the poem. That is why I usually just read the prompt when I first open my eyes and write later.
Your questions are so versatile–funny, curious, serious, reflective –“(Let me count the ways),” as you say.
Jennifer,
Only teachers of young students understand our plight!!! You nailed it! 🤣
Jennifer, you are so right in mentioning how younger writers would get into this topic; however, I am guessing my grad students are going to love a quick write with set answers as well. Your questions really do play a wonderful “spoof” on so many pop cultural questions.
Wow, Jennifer, you have some phenomenal questions in this poem. I was particularly moved by “What color is the sound of children weeping?” Fun allusions in this one, too. Delightful poem!
Jennifer, the final seven lines of your poems speak for me, two. Isn’t amazing how reflects on the narrow range of ages of children you focused on in the opening, expands so readily into life for grownups, too.
What a clever inspiration of us this morning, Kim. I love the questions that you pull from pop culture!
On Sundays, the first thing I do is read Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. Her “I Was Thinking . . .” column today is titled “Moving Humanity Forward in the Age of AI.” It yanked me by the throat, and I’d like to say it left me feeling encouraged, but it didn’t. My next thing was to go to Ethical ELA and read today’s poetry inspiration. I knew instantly that the two had to go hand-in-hand. The entire idea of AI has me feeling so very unsettled these days. And asking Magic 8 Ball-style questions fit very well. I then went to The Atlantic search engine and put in AI to try to read more on the topic. Just the titles of the articles left my belly with that anxious roiling and my mind ruminating. “Donald Trump Is Fairy-Godmothering AI,” “Do AI Companies Even Care about America?,” “The AI Mirage,” and “The AI Doomers Are Getting Doomier.” I decided to fully read the article “AI Is Grown, Not Built” by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares, and it amplified my fears. I’m not sure how to proceed in this society, but I am damn glad that I just retired from teaching as most of the initiatives in schools run counter to what I care about as an educator. Anyway . . . my poem.
The Opposite of Magic
Is our world being enhanced
by the use of AI?
Don’t count on it.
Should we be fearful that we are
losing our humanity?
Without a doubt.
Do the creators even know
what they are unleashing?
Very doubtful.
Is the disappearance
of humanities classes
in high schools and colleges
a result of AI?
It is certain.
Didn’t Charlie Gordon
teach us anything?
Reply hazy, try again.
Just because we can,
should we?
My sources say no.
Will President Trump
leverage its power
for his agendas?
Most likely.
Can we curate
goodness?
Outlook not so good.
Do I want to live
in a world devoid of
love, thought,
empathy, and voice?
No.
Can we put
the genie
back in the bottle?
Absolutely not.
~Susan Ahlbrand
19 October 2025
Susan, Amen to all of this. The last stanza has me shivering in my shoes……and the response rings so true. Absolutely not. I was a sucker for a possum being scared to death and jumping high by a Halloween decoration that moved, only to discover a few screens later a bear attacking a moving skeleton, and come to find out it’s all an AI trend with videos of animals that are spooked at Halloween. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Your poem assures me that I am not alone. There’s going to need to be a whole new division of law degrees that center on disproving false videos and generated fake news. I’m with you, friend. You said it well.
Oh, Susan, I hear you. My morning began with some “opposite of magic” questions too. I just talked to one group of my students who are developing a teaching unit with Flowers for Algernon as their anchor text about ethics, so your lines are so relevant today:
“Didn’t Charlie Gordon
teach us anything?
Reply hazy, try again.”
The final stanza sounds like a life sentence without parole.
Susan, you tempted me to read the Maria Shriver column at first, but after reading through your intro paragraph, it has harped my fear aright (heading into Macbeth at school). There’s too much concern there to justify its use, and the waste of resources should be the deciding factor in a world already overly wasteful. Your poem allows for the seriousness of the questions to be amplified in the magic of the 8 ball’s responses.
Susan, this was fire!
Susan— the genie. That ominous, growing genie…
Susan, I am hearing and sharing your angst for the impersonal AI that allows “realities” to be created out of ideas without the personal reflection and introspection that only humans can do. I have used AI in creating courses, quizzes and even letters, but I fear the end of writing as we know it today to clarify our thoughts and ideas. Oh my, you have me going! We cannot put this genie back in the bottle; however, we can teach and empower ourselves and our students to be more critical thinkers than ever before.
Susan, we are on the same wavelength today! I just keep getting these AI generated responses from more and more of my students; the teachers in my department or moving (rapidly) toward the good ol’ fashion pen and paper responses so that we can see and evaluate our students’ actual thoughts and critical thinking skills unaided by AI. (That genie ain’t goin’ back in that bottle!)
Susan,
This stanza says it all —
“Just because we can,
should we?
My sources say no.”
Wish our lawmakers and President would realize this and that our world will recover.
Susan, horrifying Q&A here. Thanks for the honesty and the truths you unleash.
Kim, this was so fun. I woke up after the protests yesterday with big questions, so this worked well. I actually used the answers that came up on the Magic 8 Ball link that Kevin shared. I feel I got good news, as these are the real answers that came up!
Big Questions the Morning of the Baby Shower
Is there hope?
It is certain
For those in power, does the end justify the means?
My sources say no
Will the arc of the moral universe continue to bend toward justice?
Yes, definitely
Will the baby grow up to embrace and fight for liberty and justice for all?
It is decidedly so
Will the caprese skewers get made before the guests arrive?
As I see it, yes
Denise, congratulations on the forthcoming new little one – – what a lovely way to welcome a child, with the hopes for future generations to embrace humanity and fight for liberty and justice for all. I’m glad you used the online ball – – it’s fun to imagine that the universe is speaking with answers that give us the hope of truths revealed. Enjoy the shower and those caprese skewers sound delicious.
Denise, there’s so much in that small word – hope. I’m clinging to it! You take us on the journey of your morning, so much so that I can imagine the waking and awarness, the reflecting on the events of yesterday and the leaving us with what will start your day today – caprese skewers. And you might have just solved my what to eat today dilemma!
Hi, Denise! It’s so great to see hope in your poem today. Each question and answer make me want to do something good. Congratulations! Have a wonderful baby shower and enjoy food and company. Let the universe hear you loud and clear.
Denise, I loved this!! That shift at the end to the mundane mirrored, imo, our daily struggle to maintain a semblance of sanity and normality in our everyday lives as we navigate this chaos.
Hope is all we need. And love. Enjoy precious moments with loved ones.
Awww, beautiful! Congratulations and I hope all goes well, as I’m sure it will. Let’s just focus on the baby coming and trust that God will take care of everything. 🌺
Denise, I love the serious questions your poem asks and then how you end on such a particular task connected with the baby shower. It’s interesting to wonder what gifts a child will bring into the universe. It sounds like this child will have all the love and support it will need and make the world a better place just like you.
I love how you go from the existential to the practical. I like the answer you got about the baby growing up to embrace and fight for liberty and justice for all. Your fine example will lead them.
Denise, Isn’t it amazing to see how old poems can evoke responses to contemporary issues? What’s especially pleasing to me is the positive allusions to the future based on protests this past weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Kim, What a fun way into a poem. Kevin, thanks for the digital 8 ball. I played it with my grandson, but most of his questions involved body parts and tooting. He’s 6.
There are so many ways to approach this prompt, but my mind is on all the No Kings Day protests that I saw on my Insta and Facebook feeds.
Are you listening?
My reply is no
Will peace ever come?
Outlook good
Where have all the morals gone?
Better not tell you now.
Can I find peace among trees?
As I see it, yes.
Who will save us from ourselves?
Better not tell you now.
Nice one!
Can I find peace among trees?
As I see it, yes.
Kevin
There is such truth in the peace among trees. The grandson has me giggling – – after spending time with ours last week in Tennessee with so many similar references. We saw several protests on our way home yesterday. Overpasses at interstates, particularly, were popular places, and my mind spun back to America’s history – – we left England in refusal to bow to a king. It’s mind-boggling to think that this is right back where we are today. I’m glad your Magic 8 Ball’s answer to peace is that the outlook is good.
Margaret, I have to continue to live in the hope we continue to believe in. It’s getting me through. Love the 60’s vibe of Where have all the morals gone? Can’t help but sing it in my head.
Margaret, loved your enigmatic last thought. Great poem!
Margaret,
Yes to peace among the trees. I was sharing with my students last week how healing the forest is. Too bad we don’t have one close to our school.
I think we all are hopeful that peace and love will endure. And somehow in this time of division there will come unity.
The peace among the trees…
Margaret, you and I were on the same wavelengths today with our inspiration. I’m glad the outlook for peace is good. And the beauty in the question “Can I find peace among trees?” is continuing to make me smile.
Kim, thank you for this wonderful format that I first thought would take me all day to process! Yet, in the shower I felt compelled to write immediately as the questions just kept flowing! I could probably write pages in this format! My own response is a bit personal and a bit big worldly!
Does writing help me process ideas, work through frustration, and share happiness?
Absolutely!
Am I brave enough to drive through New York City with all the fees, electric bikes and jaywalkers?
Definitely
Will I know the joy of watching loved ones grow into strong adults making the world a better place?
Without a doubt.
Will I ever be know the kind of love that makes you forget your plans and weak in the knees?
Outlook no so good!
Will there be a quick end to the suffering of so many who are facing deportation after years of working faithfully through a system that has failed them?
My sources suggest sadly the answer is no.
Am I confident that the good guys will always win in the end, even if it takes a long time and a lot of frustration to get to the end?
Without a doubt!
How long will it take?
I cannot predict now.
Anita, all of this!! Glad to know we both do our best thinking in the shower, of all places. It’s a daily sprinkling of inspiration and power of thought. I like the big worldliness and random thoughts here, from self to place to others to love to world events (love the 8 ball answer with sadly in it), and the reassurance that all of this will somehow be okay in the end. High five to the morning shower and the power of your pen.
Anita, oh, those final questions! The up and down/back and forth – from deportation to the good guys winning, the length of time it will take – and the answers mimic my feelings day to day (and hour by hour). Hope in those growing into strong adults is what is getting me through.
Anita, your questions are insightful and relatable…. except, of course, the New York City one since I can’t even imagine attempting the drive. I am filled with sadness thinking about the many people facing deportation when they have tried to work through the system. I’m glad you end with some hope.
Kim— this is such a wonderful prompt! I had trouble choosing my favorite questions—but the cat question (where did that come from???) and the pig question rose to the top. Love this!
My Life is a Magic Eight Ball
Why did I come in the room?
Concentrate and ask again.
Why did I come in here?
Ask again later.
If I go back, maybe I’ll remember.
Outlook not so good.
Where did I put it?
Ask again later.
It’s someplace safe. It’s someplace safe.
Without a doubt.
Will I find it accidentally when I don’t need it anymore?
You may rely on it.
What is his name? He’s coming toward me!
Better not tell you now.
I see him every day. What IS his name?
Ask again later.
The GPS boss says to turn in 600 feet.
What is 600 feet, anyway?
Will I miss the turn?
Yes, definitely.
GJ Sands
10/19/25
Ah, your opening line is just perfect here.
Kevin
Gayle, I’m dying over here laughing all the way through. Every single line, questions and answers, are calling my name – – this is me, too! How many times have I walked out of a room to get a “running start” to walking back in and remembering a thing? And missed the turns, and forgotten names? Your readers relate. Note: The pigs are from a bad senior prank where in our rural community the kids numbered three pigs oddly and turned them loose in the building, only to wonder if pig 3 was uncaught, escaped, or never existed. The cat line is from the movie Meet the Parents, a go-to when I need a laugh.
Well, Gayle, I’ve often asked myself these same questions and have yet to find the answers! I love this! (I have learned that the answer to the GPS question is a math story problem that depends on the speed of the car and whether the sun is shining.)
LOL! Literally made me laugh aloud. I think your Magic 8 Ball is my brain on menopause.
LOL, I can totally relate!
Gayle, you have given me comfort in knowing I am not alone.
Love this, Gayle! Those of our age can definitely relate. I especially relate to the last stanza . . . I never can judge how many feet is 600 feet!
Gayle, I could have written this poem, myself, IF I had remembered all the ideas I have forgotten or misplaced. Great poem.
Gayle, this one hits just right on my funny bone. I can so relate to All of it. What IS his name? Is a daily question for me. Names are falling out of my head. And the GPS Guy? I have mine set to Australian, so it’s funny to hear how he pronounces names of streets.
Gayle, this is a hoot! These are the questions I would need to ask on a daily if I had a Magic 8 Ball. You nailed it with this. It’s definitely one of my favorites.
That was fun and weird, Kim.
Thanks!
I used this online Magic 8 Ball to ask it questions: https://magic-8ball.io/
Kevin
It’s the fold between
night and day –
Am I even here?
Very Doubtful
I hear the rush of
something in the leaves –
Should I even care?
Ask Again Later
A car approaches,
and I pull the dog aside —
Should I wave?
Concentrate And Ask Again
Shall I wave?
Yes
I did as you told
but there was no response –
How shall I behave?
Better Not Tell You Now
The sun begins to climb
and morning breaks —
Is this the end of an all-nighter?
Signs Point To Yes
I’m talking to a voice
of a object from childhood –
Does that make me a writer?
Without A Doubt
An online magic 8-ball? No way! I need to go play. This is such a neat response…very existential. OK, I’m off to write. I needed ideas this morning.
Kevin, I love that you found a Magic 8 Ball online! I wish I’d known. I love all of your questions and answers and can’t wait to see all the poems that pop up today! Your last stanza made me chuckle.
Kevin— this is great! I’m glad you waved, even if he didn’t respond!
I like how your poem takes us to the beginning of your day. Thanks for the digital 8 ball. It was interesting to try.
Kevin, I love that the 8 ball was reticent about most answers until you ask about talking with/to your past and if that makes one a writer: “Without a Doubt.” Lol. Yep, that checks out.
Kevin,
I love your approach to this fun prompt. Also, thanks for sharing the online Magic 8 Ball. I used it to inspire my poem.
You nailed it! This resonated with me because I absolutely detest when I wave or speak and get no response. People these days!😖
I love how you structure this . . . the observation (many fun), the question, the 8-ball answer. Clever.
Kevin, your vague answers until the end are an interesting format for the Magic 8 Ball format. PLUS, I went online searching, after writing, and yes, there are a lot of resources out there. Thanks for leading me and so many others into writing resources.