A Birthday Poem Created in "Collaboration" with Joseph Fasano
Unlocking the magic of poetry and imagination
This weekend, I'm celebrating my birthday with gratitude for where I am and the riches—a loving husband, incredible step-daughter, and amazing daughter—I have in my life. I will be forever grateful that fate brought my husband, Michael and I together. His creativity and curiosity inspire me daily. Recently, he introduced me to the work of poet Joseph Fasano. Several of Joseph's books adorn our bookshelf and recently, I picked up "The Magic Words: Simple Poetry Prompts that Unlock The Creativity in Everyone." At first, I thought it would be like an adult Mad Libs and in some ways, it is. But Joseph's poetry prompts unlock something deeper in us.
In his book Joseph writes:
“Poetry is what happens when we let ourselves be. Each one of us started this journey of life with the astonishing power of an imagination, and all too often the practical concerns of daily living encroach upon that childlike wonder, that ability to trust the dreamlike images inside of us, to follow those images as a child would follow a magical creature deep into an enchanted forest, unafraid of what might be there."
Fasano shares a remarkable story about visiting a class of second graders and working with them using a poetry prompt that would eventually touch lives across the globe. When one student's poem was shared on social media, it sparked a worldwide movement. The prompt reached people from all walks of life: a ninety-year-old woman working through dementia with her caretaker, an autistic teenager finding their voice, and classrooms across continents where teachers translated the exercise into multiple languages.
Here's the prompt that has unlocked so much magic:
Inspired by this framework, I wrote my own birthday poem:
Forty-Eight
My name is Lia.
Today I feel like a flickering firefly dancing in the meadow.
Sometimes I am a bird.
Sometimes I am a rock.
But always, I am radiating.
I ask the world, what is my purpose?
And the answer is a flickering firefly dancing in the meadow.
What strikes me about this simple structure is how it invites us to embrace both our changing nature and our constant core. Poetry isn't just for "poets"—it's for anyone who dares to let themselves be—who is willing to follow those dreamlike images deep into an enchanted forest of their own making.
I invite you to try this prompt yourself. As a birthday gift to me, would you share your poem in the comments?
Words of the Week
“Sometimes the best gift we can give someone cannot be bought with money. It is something that comes directly from the soul.” —Joseph Fasano, “The Magic Words”
Photo of the Week
Facing consistent rent increases at his Upper East Side studio, my husband, artist Michael De Feo has been forced to leave his beloved space. Wanting to “leave on a high note”, he has orchestrated a wonderful pivot transforming his art studio into a gallery for the final weeks of his lease. What could have been a somber farewell will now be a celebration of community and resilience featuring artwork by eleven incredible New York artists and a poem by Joseph Fasano.
The above image is a sketch that became the logo for his gallery, Last Days Gallery. The exhibition opens th evening of January 22nd and runs from January 23rd to February 22nd. The show is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. I’ll be there often during the run of the show, so please let me know if you plan to swing by. I’d love to meet you there!
My name is ToJo
Today I feel like a worryless cat relaxing in the warmth of the sun from a window.
Sometimes I am a fixer
Sometimes I am a let's wait to see what happens-er
But always I am rooting for the solution that causes the maximum amount of comfort
I ask the world why make it harder than it needs to be?
And the answer is a worryless cat relaxing in the warmth of the sun from a window.
My name is Karen.
Today I feel like a lone wolf in the forest.
Sometimes I am howling.
Sometimes I am silent.
But I am always purpose filled.
I ask the world” Why does evil exist?”
And the answer is:
So the howling wolf will finish crying in the forest.