Homer wakes up one morning with a string tied to his finger. Despite numerous reminders scattered throughout the house, he can’t think of what it is he’s supposed to remember. Marge tells everyone they’re going to the Senior Olympics to root for Grampa. Homer assumes the reminders were about the event. After the Simpsons leave the house, Moe leaves a message on the answering machine reminding Homer that it’s his birthday, and that he’s looking forward to the fishing trip Homer is taking him on. Later, at Springfield High School, Grampa recalls how he almost won the 1936 Olympics… and almost killed Hitler during a javelin throw. One of Grampa’s colleagues, Jasper, lights an oversized Olympic flame basin, and the games get underway. In the stands Lisa turns her attention to a composition book. She tells Marge she’s having trouble finding the right subject for her “Fascinating Springfielder” report, which is due on Monday. Grampa performs poorly in every event he participates in. Marge doubts he’ll walk away with a medal. During a track event Grampa mistakes Groundskeeper Willie for the Grim Reaper. Terrified he’s about to die, Grampa quickly leaps hurdle after hurdle, winning the race and a gold medal. The Simpsons are proud of him. When the family returns home, Homer realizes he was supposed to take Moe fishing. The family sneaks inside the house while an angry Moe creeps around outside. Later Moe throws a brick through a window. Attached is a note in which Moe expresses his bitterness. Recognizing Moe for the tormented soul he is, Lisa approaches Moe and says she’d like him to be the subject of her school report. Moe exclaims that it’s his best birthday ever. Moments later he’s attacked by Santa’s Little Helper, hit with eggs, and pecked by a bird.

Lisa tells Moe he has an artist’s soul within him. She and Homer make their way to the hotel where Moe lives. Lisa is fascinated by the Post-It notes she finds in the room. She tells Moe his words read like poetry. When Homer hears this, he makes fun of Moe… but in the process falls out a window and tumbles down a fire escape. Lisa tapes together a pastiche of Moe’s writings. She calls the work “Howling at a Concrete Moon.” Lisa is dismayed when Miss Hoover gives her a C-minus on the report. She decides to send Moe’s poems to American Poetry Perspectives. The submission catches the editor’s eye, and before long his poem is published. An excited Lisa hands Moe a copy of the magazine. Moe receives an invitation to attend the Wordloaf Festival in Vermont. Moe invites Lisa to come along. The Simpsons head out on their journey to Vermont. The literary conference is attended by many famous writers; including Tom Wolfe, Gore Vidal, Michael Chabon, and Jonathan Franzen. During a cocktail party Tom Wolfe asks Moe how he came up with the poem’s title. Moe lies and says he thought it up on his own. Lisa is crushed. She begins to sob.

Moe appears on a panel along with Wolfe, Franzen, and Chabon. During a question-and-answer session Lisa asks Moe if there was someone in his life who believed in him when no one else did. Moe claims there was no such person. Lisa is stunned. The rest of the family goes sightseeing, and Homer discovers the pleasures of fresh maple syrup. Later Moe approaches Lisa and asks her to turn some scraps of paper into another poem. Lisa calls Moe a “heartless jerk,” and storms off. Back at Wordloaf Lisa tells Homer and Bart about her experience with Moe. She bursts into tears, and runs off. Homer pounds his fist in his palm and vows revenge. Later, at a banquet hall, Moe is asked to read his keynote poem. Moe ends up reading some information he pulled off the wall of an elevator. Then Moe spots Lisa in the back of the hall. He makes up a beautiful new poem, and dedicates it to Lisa. Lisa is deeply touched, and Moe asks for her forgiveness. Meanwhile, in the rafters, Homer and Bart tip over a big jug labeled “maple syrup.” The syrup moves so slowly that Moe is easily able to walk off before it hits him. Lisa tells Homer she’s no longer mad at Moe. Later a fight breaks out between the famous authors.