Today’s (optional) prompt. Begin by reading Sarah Gambito’s poem “Grace.” Now, choose an abstract noun from the list below, and then use that as the title for a poem that contains very short lines, and at least one invented word.

Here is the list of words from which to choose:

Glory
Courage
Anxiety
Failure
Defeat
Delight
Confusion
Calm
Belief
Cleverness
Despair
Honesty
Deceit
Strength

Confusion


“Don’t
Tell
Mom”

The gas
in my eye
Lights

the torch
that lights
the gas;

The lit gas
still gaslights
Mom.

Don’t 
Tell
Mom.

Tell mom
only what 
she needs.

I never 
did that;
I never…

Mom
Don’t listen.
Look mom.

I am
the only one
who cares.

I am
the only one
who speaks

Truth
(doesn’t matter 
if it’s true).

Is it truth
if it begins
as a lie?

If so,
Don’t tell
Mom.

Keep her
in the gasblack
darkness.

-Carla Jeanne