Insertponceyfrenchnamehere's blog

Review by Noo: There is a fragility and beauty running right through Scharlie Meeuws’ collection of poetry,Outbranching. The collection is split into four sections, moving from memories and dreams, through betrayal and darkness, to nature, wisdom and finally, healing. As you read the poems in each section, you make this same journey and are both touched and transformed by the words in each poem. Scharlie has her own take on the world, but there...

Our picks for the month of November have been chosen by rjnewlyn: November’s an odd month – a bit past proper autumn, not quite proper winter. Back in the day it used to tie with February as my least favourite time of year, but I’ve come to view it with more affection of late (I was going to say ‘warmed to it’ but that wouldn’t be quite right). Perhaps it’s the Tom Waits song (of the same name) that did the trick. There were certainly some good...

Poetry Monthly – December Hello all, Hope everything is good where you are and that the short days and long evenings are giving you lots of chances to write! Poetry Monthly in November asked you to have a go at writing haikus and tankas. Here are some beauties to have another read of: https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/3-wintry-haiku https://www.abctales.com/story/alice-hamilton/park https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/3-...

Our Story and Poem for the month of October have been chosen by Philip Sidney: October is that strange month of transition. It sits on the border of life and death. A time for contemplation and a time to be unsettled. So many pieces across the month have played with these ideas but I have pulled out two that wrong-footed me with their strange yet recognisable ideas. Poem of the month is Noo’s meditation on death and its borders. I found it...

For the month of September our picks have very kindly been chosen by Mark Say: Poem of the month At sea with you by caribou_ A clever and powerful expression of longing that combines the sense of wanting someone with the knowledge that it would be a destructive relationship. It manages to simultaneously convey a sense of ecstasy and foreboding. https://www.abctales.com/ story/caribou/sea-you Other stand-outs were Tangerine Static by lavadis, a...

Story and Poem for the month of July very kindly chosen by Alex Smith (london_calling79): As Benvolio put it: ‘These hot days is the mad blood stirring.’ At this time of year there seems to be something in the air, maybe it’s Mercury in retrograde, morons in the White House or just the fact that it’s been too damn hot to sleep but I’m not complaining as this month has produced some phenomenal writing here on ABCTales. My pick for Poem of the...

Annest Gwilym wrote on ABCTales as Rosa Cruz and won many cherries for her wonderful work. Her debut pamphlet of poetry, Surfacing, is now available from Lapwing Poetry. ISBN: 978-1-910855-81-2 Further details are available here: https://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/home

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of well-wisher (John Nandy) after a short illness. John's sister, Bithika let us know yesterday and has said she and the rest of his family have been touched and comforted by the comments left on his final poem, and that they would be proud and pleased if we mentioned him on the front page.. She also sent some photos which she wanted us to include. John will be very much missed by many...