Wardle is the creator of the five-letter-word online game Wordle.
Today.
Alarm.
Arise.
Teeth: brush, floss.
Grabs phone.
Loads. Rules clear.
Legit words, slang taboo.
Ready? Ready.
Plays.
Picks usual first guess.
Sonar? Cable? Novel? Stare?
Ashen block after ashen block.
Lucky!
Clues. Hints.
Tries again.
Fifth space, amber (maybe lemon?).
Right vowel, wrong place.
Tries again.
Three right!
First, green. Third, green. Fifth, amber (maybe lemon).
Brain stirs.
Words. Order. Usage. Logic.
Tries again. Worse.
Feels faint. Think!
Needs quiet.
Fight doubt.
Avoid doing badly.
Tries again
Wrong!
Shock, truly.
Stuck.
Brain blank.
Sharp panic.
Takes pulse.
Keeps faith.
Brain spark: vowel twice?
Final guess.
Every fiber tense.
Waits.
First block flips.
Green.
Green, green, green, green!
Bliss!
Alive again!
Prize: pride.
Inner peace.
Waits.
Night, alarm, teeth, phone, newly blank board.
First guess again.
Final point:
minor thing, major magic.
Daily light among bleak times.
Happy place.
Hence,
folks thank
JoshW ardle.
Thompson is a Grammy- and Oscar-winning musical artist and director
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