A Poetic Prank

​April Fools’ Day is almost here! In honor of that illustrious holiday, here’s the story of my favorite prank I ever pulled, which was during my senior year of college:

​First, some background info: Jeannie (of Thinklings) and I were roommates and good friends, and we were both buddies with Dr. Williams, our favorite English professor. I had him for 10 classes, and he regularly took us and other students to Shakespeare plays, Renaissance festivals, etc. So, since my love language is pranks* (haha), I wanted to do something spectacular to them before I graduated.
 
I began the prank ahead of time to avoid suspicion. In late March, I anonymously submitted a poem to the college's literary magazine, Epicentre, which Jeannie and I ran. The poem was a love sonnet . . . addressed to ME in the last line!
 
The next day, I made my regular trip after classes to the English department office building. Jeannie was the secretary, and her office and Dr. W's were connected. As I'd hoped, I found the two of them excitedly scrutinizing a piece of paper. Jeannie thrust it at me and said, "Read this!" You can guess what it was! XD
 
I somehow managed to keep a straight face and not give myself away! I tried to act surprised, flattered, and curious. Of course I told them I had no idea who the poet could be.
 
For the next couple of days, Jeannie and Dr. W obsessively tried to figure out the identity of my "secret admirer." I didn't think they'd narrow it down to one person, but they did! This poor guy named Peter, another English major a year or two behind me. I didn't have any feelings toward him whatsoever, hadn't talked to or about him much, and I felt bad he got caught up in my scheme. Not bad enough to reveal it early, though!
 
Peter convinced Jeannie and Dr. W it wasn’t him, and they went back to their “detective work.” Meanwhile, I got a clever idea for the big reveal and prepared it.
 
Early on April 1st, I put another piece of paper in the Epicentre p.o. box . . . yes, I used another sonnet to reveal the trick! When I made my afternoon trip to the English offices, Jeannie and Dr. W were waiting for me, laughing and shaking their heads at how I’d had them running around like silly people trying to solve a mystery that didn’t exist! Dr. W called it an “elegant prank.”
 
And that’s the story of how I used a poem as a prank! Go thou and do likewise while you still have a few days to prep! XD
 
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*My love language is actually words, but this prank involved words! ;D