We have all been there—sitting awkwardly with relatives or a dinner party when a monstrosity is brought out: the inevitable meat-suspended-in-gelatin dish of our nightmares and/or the Jello-Cool Whip-Mayo “fruit salad” from your now-least-favorite aunt. For the next prompt, write a sonnet describing this dish. Let the sonnet’s turn be either your decision to try it or your survival after the mandatory taste test.

For inspiration, see the following picture:

And because I just had to know more and assume you might too:

For the next prompt, reimagine the universe as a Jello ring. Write a narrative poem or a short story as an explorer—whether astronaut, cosmonaut (Russian), yuhangyuan (Chinese), or of some other nationality. What equipment allows for breath? How do you navigate through tuna? Are the cucumber chunks a relief? Describe the flora and fauna.

And here is one more for your amusement, terror, an emotion not yet named by anyone other than the Germans….

Good luck!