Poem and Story of the Month

          Long-time ABCtaler and editor, sid took on the incredibly difficult task of scrutinising the June submissions.  Here’s what sid has to say:

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Having been away for a long time, being assigned the task of choosing June’s picks of the month was a daunting privilege. On the other hand, there’s no better way to get inspired after a long drought than reading through a month’s worth of fantastic submissions. To single out just two was an agonising process - but these are the two pieces that refuse to go quietly:

• http://www.abctales.com/story/old-jack-back/not-sonnet-moths-and-metaphors

I love this paradox of a poem for everything it refuses to say.

And for the prose:

• http://www.abctales.com/story/blackjack-davey/sewing-machine

This strange and perfectly crafted tale would put Angela Carter to shame.

If I may, I would like to give an honourable mention to Vera Clark for her crushingly candid Portrait of a Father, and Yvonne Anderson’s ingenious A Fleeting Moment of Beauty. And I would like to thank everyone who’s submitted work this month for making my commission such an enjoyable and inspiring one. I can’t wait to start writing again!

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          I think most will agree that these really are two exceptional pieces.  Thanks, sid!