Story and Poem of the Month

Our Story and Poem for the month of July have very kindly been chosen by Mark Say:

Poem of the month

It’s been a close call in choosing poem of the month, with a handful of works in which a short, sharp choice of words and vivid imagery has been used to strong effect.

This characterises my top choice, Healing (for an old mate) by smokejack, a powerful evocation of uncontrolled dark thoughts during the night, and the renewal of an appetite for life with daylight.

https://www.abctales.com/story/smokejack/healing-old-mate

I’d also commend Murky Waters by Penny4thought, a series of short, punchy lines that powerfully convey the way that words and ideas are mangled with malevolent intent; and highly pertinent to the existing state of the world. And Every Picture Tells a Story by Jennifer Skinner, a dark, dreamy meditation on the spirit behind a woodland tree.

https://www.abctales.com/story/penny4athought/murky-waters

https://www.abctales.com/story/skinnerjennifer/every-picture-tells-story

Story of the month

Another tough choice, with plenty worthy of the accolade, and I’ve been influenced by my liking for stories that pack an emotional or intellectual punch into a brief turn of events or recollection.

As story of the month I’ve opted for The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shows by Steve Button, a brief, subtle but quite powerful story about the moment in which a young victim of bullies finds a new strength in herself. I’m sure it will bring a smile to a lot of faces.

https://www.abctales.com/story/steve-button/angels-wanna-wear-my-red-shoes

It shaded the choice over two other brief stories: The Machinery of Night by Itane Vero, a dreamy recollection of dinner with a dictator, that is slightly surreal, slightly frightening, and quite thought provoking; and Walking Through Fire by mark p, a convincing combination of reminiscence and expression of regret but with an encouraging element of hope for the future.

https://www.abctales.com/story/itane-vero/machinery-night

https://www.abctales.com/story/mark-p/walking-through-fire#comment-783424

It’s also worth looking at a couple of works in progress, Goatie by celticman and PE.10 by Mark Burrow, both of which have a series of instalments in the Cherrypicked section.