I am so happy to be invited to participate again in this televised international reading. I am astonished to be included with such prestigious poets. I hope you will be able to join. I will post the recording later though.

The first prompt is to write a poem or story that will convey meaning to an international audience. Humor often relies on local or cultural context as do national politics and of course references to pop culture. Tragedy is easier to translate across languages, but overreliance lessens the impact.

For the second prompt, write about being invited to a party of people who completely outclass you (asking for a friend—me, asking for me). What do you do to try to fit in?

Bonus prompt: What do the lions ask you to allow you to passage through the doorway?