Tag Archives: writing prompt

What did the guru say?

I went into the woods today
a question on my mind.
I did not expect it,
but a guru I did find.

Young and fair of hair,
she sat in the eye of a thatch.
Bright were her clothes,
brightest thing in the wooded patch.

I approached with care
afraid I might frighten her away.
She bade me come closer,
“Do you have a question today?”

I said that I did
and proceeded to try to ask.
It was about triskaidekaphobia,
but she said that would simply pass.

“It’s a silly number
falling on a Friday.
If that is all you have,
then you have no reason to stay.”

I turned to leave her,
feeling suitably rebuffed
when she said she had a question
if I thought I had the right stuff.

Then she paused a minute
and I told her I would try.
She said she wanted to know
about this day they called pie.

“What types of pie,” she asked,
“will there be on pie day?
If I come out of the woods
can I taste whatever I may?”

I thought it through a minute
then realized what she meant
but if she were looking pie
this might not be her event.

I told her 3.1415 was
what this day was about.
She looked up to the sky
and then I heard her shout:

“Just another lousy number
when all I wanted was a slice.
Take two radii and form a wedge
of blackberry would be nice.

“Add a scoop of ice cream
to this little wedge of pie.
Is that too much to ask?”
and then I heard her cry.

I quietly left the woods
tiptoeing over roots and rocks
vowing never to complain
to a guru with golden locks.

–photo and poem by David E. Booker