The morning I am to begin my journey and receive my starter Pokémon from Professor Oak, I wake up sweaty from a dream. In the dream I am a Psyduck holding my head; yellow, dumb, and in pain. The other eleven-year-olds mock me, calling me a runt like they do in real life because I have to stand on tippy toes to reach the Pokéshop counter when I purchase ethers and potions for Mother.

“We must live thriftily,” he said
to the next generation, waving
a pencil extender, with
not a little melodrama, and not a little hope.

Give an avocado gift to a friend as a kind gesture. Give an avocado gift to a friend to show them that you care in a quirky, unexpected way. Your friend was eating avocado toast long before this meal became fashionable and this friend often paired it with Brie cheese as a snack. Give a head pat to a friend who’s much taller than you to let them know how enjoyable it is to pat their head, especially if they have silky hair. They’ll most likely find it strange that you’re patting their head in an affectionate display but they won’t find it strange because they know you very well.

Some pronounce it poim.
Like it has an oy inside it.
The way an oyster
has an oy inside it. The way
all poems ought to have
a little oy vey
and a little oyez! oyez!
inside them.

While waiting
for the world
to end,
I anxiously
tidied the house.