Poem of the Week

So they're back - and with a vengeance. We will update the story and poem of the week every Friday. If you see a particular piece and feel that it should be included then please let us know - either on the Discuss Writing from ABC Forum or by email to tcook@abctales.com.

(12.03.10) Tess Davies's 'Artichokes' is magnificent. I especially love the section as the purple-green water turns to lizard grey. Magical:

http://www.abctales.com/story/tessdavies/artichokes

(5.03.10)Lots of great poems this week - again - tapping into rich seams of emotion and imagery. But for me this one stood out for its originality, its astute use of language and its "tripping over the taut tips of syllables": On Speaking German, by Lem.

http://www.abctales.com/story/lem/speaking-german
(26.02.10) Belle Green's poetry can, I think, sometimes get too spiritual or complex for its own good but 'Unfaithful' is a gem - erotic, thought provoking, clear and unusual:

http://www.abctales.com/story/belle-green/unfaithful

(19.02.10) Another great week for poetry - but 'More Than Just A Hat' by harveyjoseph says so much more than the sum of its words in an original and topical way that it had to get the nod:

http://www.abctales.com/story/harveyjoseph/more-just-hat

(12.02.10) I was beginning to despair at the poetry on here but this week has been fantastic. I could have picked any of ten poems for this spot but in the end the sheer originality of mcmanaman's 'The admin of being Prime Minister' won out:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mcmanaman/admin-being-prime-minister

(5.02.10) AKT's 'Pot of Tea' would appear to be a sweet and gentle little poem, but I'm not sure that it is:

http://www.abctales.com/story/akt/pot-tea

(29.01.10) Kilb50's 'In Memoriam: Fabienne Cherisma' is one of the best pieces I've read in reaction to a recent event. Do read it and weep:

http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/memoriam-fabienne-cherisma

(22.01.10) A Speckled Stone by inchiki is very short but it packs a lot into a little. A fine piece of writing:

http://www.abctales.com/story/inchiki/speckled-stone

(15.01.10) My Father by cc1959 is evocative, simple and direct - but it stimulates all of the senses. Very good indeed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/cc1959/my-father

(08.01.10) For its sheer descriptive power Luly Whisper's 'Union Cottages Revisited' gets the nod. It takes you straight to the place:

http://www.abctales.com/story/luly-whisper/union-cottages-revisited

(18.12.09) 'The Little Girl Who Learned To Read' by shoe is our pick for this week. It's more straightforward than our usual choices but it does have a fine message and a good use of language:

http://www.abctales.com/story/shoe/little-girl-who-learned-read

(11.12.09) The booze soaked imagery of Floincidentally's 'Visionary' tip this week's prize his/her way. This is a very good poem and well worth your time:

http://www.abctales.com/story/floincidentally/visionary

(04.12.09) As Good As It Gets by 27 is a poem of such sweet sadness that it has stuck with me all week. It's worth reading and re-reading many times over:

http://www.abctales.com/story/27/good-it-gets

(27.11.09) In a good week for poetry Russian Doll by Russian Doll just pipped a whole load of others to the post - mainly for its acutely judged rhythm:

http://www.abctales.com/story/russiandoll/russian-doll

(20.11.09) Anyone who brings Quantum Physics into a love poem is doing a good thing in my book. steve-r's 'Schrodinger's Cat' does just that - and I don't have the thing to make an umlaut on this keyboard!:

http://www.abctales.com/story/steve-r/schr-dinger-s-cat

(13.10.09) Dendrite hit a nerve with me with 'Twelve Keys'. It's also a very good poem in which so much more happens than it says in the words:

http://www.abctales.com/story/dendrite/twelve-keys

(6.11.09) Old Notebooks by shatterboxx is a work in progress but it's a good one and I suspect that we have uncovered a real talent here:

http://www.abctales.com/story/shatterboxx/old-notebooks

(30.10.09) span posted three very good poems this week but this one just stood way out there as one of her very best - and that's a high accolade:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/kisses-i-took-and-didn-t-talk

(23.10.09) It's being suggested that 'My response to an angry female poet' by gristo should be on ABCtalesRadio - it's such an obviously spoken piece. For the moment though it more than worth the read:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gristo/angry-female-poet

(16.10.09) Jem's 'In Your Own Words' uses lists, medical terms and extraordinarily strong imagery to tell a deep and disturbing story:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jem/your-own-words-0

(09.10.09) In a very strong week for poetry one piece stands out for me as it's simple, strong and says a lot with only a few words. 'Mending Time' by sarah wilson is well worth your time:

http://www.abctales.com/story/sarah-wilson/mending-time

(01.10.09) No poem has ever created such an instant furore as this one. I received three emails demanding that I give it a cherry within hours of its posting! A richly deserved poem of the week accolade then for Lines In The Sand by Silver Spun Sand:

http://www.abctales.com/story/silver-spun-sand/lines-sand

(25.09.09) Miss Carstairs Receives News From the Front by kilb50 is a thought provoking poem on the way we treat our fellow creatures - insect, animal and human:

http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/miss-carstairs-receives-news-front

(18.09.09) Every now and then I get a real surprise on this site. April has been a member for a while but her 'Charm and Poison' is such a leap forward for her poetry, it takes the breath away. It's deep, it's original and it has superb rhyme and rhythm. I am very impressed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/april/charm-and-poison

(11.09.09) The flickr inspiration point has produced a wealth of great poetry - and one of the best is Mistaken Magic's Perpendicular:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mistakenmagic/perpendicular-inspiration-po...

(04.09.09) I just couldn't decide this week due to a bumper crop of great poetry but sikander's nomination gives the wilkybarkid's 'retrosexual' the nod:

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/retrosexual

(28.08.09) The Inspiration Point has created some great stories and poems this week - and this one of the ones I love - 'Happy Holidays' by sunshine:

http://www.abctales.com/story/sunshine/happy-holidays

(21.08.09) Maudsy's 'Foreign Correspondent' is a thought provoking and very well written poem on the subject of how we portray other cultures and countries:

http://www.abctales.com/story/maudsy/foreign-correspondent

(14.08.09) 'The Poet Laid Bare' by kilb50 is a superb take on the mind of the writer - witty, sharp and memorable:

http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/poet-laid-bare

(07.08.09) I normally expect a poem to say a lot more than its words - but 'The Letters' by sunshine doesn't really do this. What it does instead is express a heap of emotion in a condensed form and leave us with a thought provoking question:

http://www.abctales.com/story/sunshine/letters

(31.07.09) HaiAnh's 'And she is drowning before the silt' is an enigmatic and fascinating poem that demands to be read time and again:

http://www.abctales.com/story/haianh/and-she-drowning-silt

(24.07.09) We rarely pick a formally written poem - mainly because they are very difficult to write. That makes 'Drifting' by Lem all the more commendable:

http://www.abctales.com/story/lem/drifting

(17.07.09) Belle Green's '.5 FL. Oz. (For Tilly)' is a complex and moving story-poem of love. It's not easy to get this kind of story just right but she does it with skill and talent:

http://www.abctales.com/story/belle-green/5-fl-oz-tilly

(10.07.09) Auntie Edna's Pie by shirtstuff is a delight. It's funny, it reads well and it's just spot on:

http://www.abctales.com/story/shirtstuff/auntie-ednas-pie

(3.07.09) Une Nuit Blanche by Mistaken Magic creates a rhythm that goes perfectly with its subject matter. The repetition of words in each stanza reflects the tossing of the insomniac. Clever stuff:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mistakenmagic/une-nuit-blanche

(26.06.09) 'Dr Crippen's Transcendental Sushi Bar' by Kilb50 is just so good it's walkover for Poem of the Week:

http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/dr-crippens-transcendental-sushi-ba...

(19.06.09) Congratulations this week go to Wilkybarkid for the excellent The Atrocity Exhibition(Love and Napalm)

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/atrocity-exhibition-love-and-n...

(12.06.09) Some pieces posted on the site are just priceless, giving us all a lighthearted moment, such as this one by mariaduffy - laugh-out-loud funny and superbly written to boot:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mariaduffy/bum-deal

(05.06.09) It sometimes happens like this - the very last piece I read before choosing gets the nod. This week poetjude's moving and memorable ode to her recently deceased grandfather just blew me away. A truly lovely and loving piece of writing:

http://www.abctales.com/story/poetjude/longs-close

(29.05.09) 'A teacher, eh?' by gristo is a magnificent rant - and sometimes it's great just to get it off your chest:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gristo/teacher-eh

(22.05.09) In a golden week for poetry one has to be chosen and, after much deliberation, scoot's golden calf has won the prize because it's one of those poems that says so much more than the words:

http://www.abctales.com/story/scoot/golden-calf

(15.05.09) Lust: A Terzanelle by emg32 is a very fine poem indeed. It speaks of far more than its words and brings new insight on an old emotion. Many thanks to Sikander for the nomination:

http://www.abctales.com/story/emg32/lust-terzanelle

(08.05.09) Reeling Like the Road by Nicola6 would make a great song with its repeating chorus - but it's also a fabulous poem with images flying in from every direction:

http://www.abctales.com/story/nicola6/reeling-road

(01.05.09) A Star Rises as Dean Realigns Tina's Destiny by Chelseyflood is darn clever and very very funny. It's entirely constructed from the letters in 'Desperately Seeking'. Why? I haven't a clue - but it makes for a magnificent poem:

http://www.abctales.com/story/chelseyflood/star-rises-dean-realigns-tina...

(24.04.09) Gilbert hasn't been around much of late but when he does arrive, it's normally with a poem well worth the time. 'For you again, this morning' is no exception:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/you-aagin-morning

(17.04.09) The Crow and I is a sombre and precise, but ultimately uplifting, poem about death by Silver Spun Sand. The structure is spot-on.

http://www.abctales.com/story/silver-spun-sand/crow-and-i-0

(10.04.09) Poetry Box by bob_roberts tells a story, has a message and makes you think. Bring good stuff for a highly accessible and beautifully tailored poem:

http://www.abctales.com/story/bob-roberts/poetry-box

(3.04.09) Ladle used to be known as galfreda on here but her poetry hasn't suffered one little bit with the change of name. 'enough' has some of the best lines I've read in a long time. Many thanks to bukharinwasmyfav... for flagging it up:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ladle/enough

(27.03.09) It isn't easy to write with originality about something like 'Spring' but one of our youngest poets, Mistaken Magic, achieves it with The Equinox Parade. We have a star in the making:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mistakenmagic/equinox-parade

(20.03.09) Soliloquy in Yellow by dilletante is such an easy pick this week - it's a stand out piece of work and deserves a massive audience:

http://www.abctales.com/story/dilletante/soliloquy-yellow

(13.03.09) A really tough choice this week with loads of truly excellent poetry coming in but Gilbert's Et In Arcadia Ego paints a picture so evocative and mysterious that it just has to go here:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/et-arcadia-ego

(6.03.09)'What Spring Is All About'by NO_1 is a hauntingly powerful and highly orginal look at spring. Enjoy it for its exuberant pessimism!

http://www.abctales.com/story/no-1/what-spring-all-about

(27.02.09) 'Friendly Fire' by MistakenMagic is this week's gem of a poem - it leaps out as a homage to the war poets, but it goes deeper...

http://www.abctales.com/story/mistakenmagic/friendly-fire

(20.02.09) It ducked under the wire at the last second and took the prize. 'I have not moved my mouth' by span is one of those poems that appears simple but says so much more than the words on the page:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/i-have-not-moved-my-mouth

(13.02.09) Both of bob_roberts' poems from this week could have made this spot but in the end I plumped for the delights of the enigmatic 'Run,Adam':

http://www.abctales.com/story/bob-roberts/run-adam

(06.02.09) 'Holcombe - The Last Time' by Silver Spun Sand just gets the nod this week in a very strong field. It's a bitter sweet snapshot of a time and place that lingers on in the memory long after reading:

http://www.abctales.com/story/silver-spun-sand/holcombe-last-time-0

(30.01.09) The Inspiration Point created a torrent of fine poetry and prose this week - but I think Doeslittle's bonding of 'red dress' and 'spider' just takes the prize:

http://www.abctales.com/story/doeslittle/red-dress

(23.01.09) Leonie's There Will Be Glamour is cutting insight into modern values, told with love, humour and, one suspects, a fair dollop of experience:

http://www.abctales.com/story/leonie/there-will-be-glamour

(16.01.09) The Art of Flirting with Cuban Idiomatic Expressions by Theresa C Newbill is clever on many levels. It mixes Spanish idiom with English saying, makes you think and draws you in. A real tour de force:

http://www.abctales.com/story/theresa-c-newbill/art-flirting-cuban-idiom...

(09.01.09) Ladies who Lunch at the Entemol is just plain funny. It made me hoot. Witty, original and wild:

http://www.abctales.com/story/catherweb/ladies-who-lunch-entemol

(02.01.09) Apologies for the absence of this feature for a few weeks - illness is to blame! But we're back with a cracker - The Water Artist by johnshade is a brilliantly conceived poem, full of dynamic imagery and serious ideas:

http://www.abctales.com/story/johnshade/water-artist-0

(12.12.08) Free England by MacJoyce is a diatribe of mighty proportion. It shouts off the page - but, be warned, it does contain strong language:

http://www.abctales.com/story/macjoyce/free-england-0

(05.12.08) In Your Place by NO_1 evokes with vitriol and spleen a moment that we all must know:

http://www.abctales.com/story/no-1/your-place

(28.11.08) 'That Night' by leonie is a sad indictment of modern society - funny, witty and caustic it's well worth a read or six:

http://www.abctales.com/story/leonie/night

(21.11.08) So What? by artisus is a departure for her - and a very good one too. It encapsulates a whole world view - and that's not easy in a few lines:

http://www.abctales.com/story/artisus/so-what-0

(14.11.09) 'Begged, Borrowed' by hellen has so much to recommend it that I just leave it you to read and enjoy:

http://www.abctales.com/story/hellen/begged-borrowed

(7.11.08) In what has been a very strong week for poetry on ABCtales 'Meeting with Remarkable Poets' by Teri West shone out as a real tour de force:

http://www.abctales.com/story/teri-west/meetings-remarkable-poets

(31.10.08) The Party I'll Never Throw by Leonie will strike a chord with many of us - and the conclusion is magnificent:

http://www.abctales.com/story/leonie/party-i-ll-never-throw

(24.10.08) By The Cathedral by kim.rooney is one of those poems that every aspiring poet should read. It says so much more than the words and yet is simple, short and beautifully constructed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/kim-rooney/cathedral

(17.10.08) Autumn Grieves by jennifer is one of her best for a while - and that takes some doing. A real gem from one of our finest poets:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jennifer/autumn-grieves

(10.10.08) bradene writes a lot and every now and then she produces a gem. Faded Collection is one and I commend it to you:

http://www.abctales.com/story/bradene/faded-collection

(4.10.08) It might be uncouth, it might be loud, but macjoyce's I'm A Geezer (Chav Anthem #1) is a pretty sharp poem, well worth a good read.

http://www.abctales.com/story/macjoyce/i-m-geezer-chav-anthem-1

(26.09.08) To Mock a Killingbird by FTSE100 is clever, witty, ironic and highly referential:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ftse100/mock-killingbird

(19.09.08) mcmanaman's been on fire this week - it's like his finest days for Liverpool. 'Sometimes when I think about you it makes me feel a bit sick' is my favourite of a very good set:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mcmanaman/sometimes-when-i-think-about-you...

(13.09.08) For its sharply-observed metaphors and a haunting capture of a sense of drift-and-angst, Fading, by Tamara is well worth close exploration:

http://www.abctales.com/story/tamara/fading

(05.09.08) It's clearly a week for craziness. macjoyce's rhyming, rap-style rant 'Apathy in the UK' is well worth a few reads:

http://www.abctales.com/story/macjoyce/apathy-uk-0

(29.08.08) He Brings a Tut by chelseyflood made me chuckle - and then go 'Oh, how true'. That makes it a pretty darn good poem in my eyes:

http://www.abctales.com/story/chelseyflood/he-brings-tut

(15.08.08) Sweet on You by neilmc is a beautiful poem about loss of innocence. Its clever allusions move on through the sixties as the piece unfolds - very good indeed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/neilmc/sweet-you

(08.08.08) Arbitary Pentasyllabics by the wilkybarkid stems from our Inspiration Point so I'm especially pleased to include it here. He took a fine story by jlb and created a wonderful poem. Read the story first - and then see what he's done. Clever, creative and witty:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jlb/arbitrary-decimation
http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/arbitrary-pentasyllabics

(01.08.08) Colonel Crampon Goes Off by lukewright is a rarity - a 'story poem' that works. It's a delightful tale of a sad demise:

http://www.abctales.com/story/lukewright/colonel-crampon-goes

(25.07.08) People Who by HaiAnh is a truly superb short poem. It splits all of us down the middle. Which side are you on?

http://www.abctales.com/story/haianh/people-who

(18.07.08) From nominating to winning in just seven days. 'Chrome Man' by Doeslittle is a relatively long poem - but it speaks of the universal archetype with wit and insight:

http://www.abctales.com/story/doeslittle/chrome-man

(11.07.08) Thanks to Doeslittle for the nomination and I can only concur - It ain't necessarily so by ewan is a belter. We've come to expect clever, sharp and well crafted poetry from him, but this is very good even by his high standards:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ewan/it-aint-necessarily-so

(04.07.08) One Driver Escaped Uninjured by charlie99 is short, pithy and beautifully observed. There's a lot more said than the number of words...

http://www.abctales.com/story/charlie99/one-driver-escaped-uninjured

(27.06.08) The Complete Confounded Letters plus a new one by Ken Simm are a long read - but they contain so many magnificent lines that they just have to be read. Prose poetry on a theme sustained over this length is rare indeed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ken-simm/complete-confounded-letters-plus-...

(18.06.08) Night Swimming by Dynamaso is not the finished article but it expresses so well a feeling held by so many writers that it deserves its place in this pantheon:

http://www.abctales.com/story/dynamaso/night-swimming

(06.06.08) Bank Holiday Monday by Leonie has it all - wit, sharp observation, great structure and a darn good read:

http://www.abctales.com/story/leonie/bank-holiday-monday

(30.05.08) The dangers of growing up too soon by gristo is claimed to have started life as a sestina but it develops into a sharp, witty attack on modern life and mores:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gristo/dangers-growing-too-soon

(23.05.08) He Is Watching You by spack is very funny. very sharp and beautifully written. You can't really ask for more:

http://www.abctales.com/story/spack/he-watching-you

(16.05.08) An absolute stand out this week. Shallow Graves by Doeslittle knocked me out and I hope you like it too:

http://www.abctales.com/story/doeslittle/shallow-graves

(09.05.08) rokkitnite's 50 Ways, which owes a little something to Paul Simon, has been selected by David K. - and he's absolutely right to have done so:

http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/50-ways

(02.05.08) Mistaken Identity by sunshine has stuck in my mind since the moment I read it. It's dark, sharp, sexy and funny:

http://www.abctales.com/story/sunshine/mistaken-identity

(25.04.08) As our 50,000th download Choose Your Path by animan had to get this week's vote. It's also a v. good poem!

http://www.abctales.com/story/animan/choose-your-path

(18.04.08) HaiAnh's Cause and Affect is a bitter/sweet poem with some very nasty undercurrents. The phrasing is masterful and it deserves to be read - but prepare to be shocked:

http://www.abctales.com/story/haianh/cause-and-affect

(11.04.08) Shell Island by DoesLittle is a beautifully crafted poem, clever, witty and nostalgic. It tells a story but still says far more than the sum of the words:

http://www.abctales.com/story/doeslittle/shell-island

(04.04.08) Let the good times roll by Chant is yet another finely crafted piece from one of our most consistent poets. He really works at the language, structure and form - and it pays dividends. This one's funny as well:

http://www.abctales.com/story/chant/let-good-times-roll

(28.03.08) The Lima News, July 11 1950 by nancy_am marks the return of one of our most accomplished poets - and this latest work demonstrates why she is held in such high esteem:

http://www.abctales.com/story/nancy-am/lima-news-july-11-1950

(21.03.08) Unlikely by ivoryfishbone is the latest from one of our most accomplished poets. Her sureness of touch is not deserting her:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ivoryfishbone/unlikely

(12.03.08) Whiskers could have won Story of the Week as well - she is a great new addition to the ABCtales crowd. 'Damsel' is a fabulous poem - sharp, elegant and very accessible:

http://www.abctales.com/story/whiskers/damsel

(7.03.08)A close run thing this week, but top of the tree for sheer originality and wordplay is Nap by hejira j. I liked especially:

All my karmic knots
Are wriggling loose

but there's lots more, too, to enjoy.

http://www.abctales.com/story/hejira-j/nap

(29.02.08)I Remember Phyliss, and I Regret is worth this leapyear day pick of the week for the opening stanza alone. But it's also wonderfully evocative throughout - compelling imagery and structure. Could be made a little better?

http://www.abctales.com/story/doeslittle/i-remember-phyliss-and-i-regret

(22.02.08) I'm Not In Love With You Anymore, Cause You're Normal by leonie says so much about relationships in so few words. It's clever, clear and compelling:

http://www.abctales.com/story/leonie/i-m-not-love-you-anymore-cause-you-...

(15.02.08) In a fantastic week for quality poetry the prize goes to HaiAnh for 'My Boss Has Given Me The Day Off to Fall in Love'. It's funny, it's a bit rude and it's just spot on:

http://www.abctales.com/story/haianh/my-boss-has-given-me-day-fall-love-...

(08.02.08) Ode to Tomorrow by ellydawn is a wry and enigmatic look at modern attitudes to life. It's also quite funny:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ellydawn/ode-tomorrow

(01.02.08) Re-reading Sylvia Plath by kim.rooney is an acutely observed and crisply expressed poem about a lot more than the poet. Very good indeed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/kim-rooney/rereading-sylvia-plath

(25.01.08) So many to choose from this week but the WilkyBarKid gets it by a nose - especially for the line 'Dancing with Comrade H. from Steppes' - it's his 'former Soviet Union Sonnet:

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/former-soviet-union-sonnet

(18.01.08) Two for the price of one this week. I just couldn't pick one of rokkitnite's two brilliant pieces submitted. Laugh and enjoy:

http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/ode-spineless-bastard-who-clone...
http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/my-favourite-song

(11.01.08) I don't normally go for these 'life experience' type of poems but 'My boyfriend lives in a great big glass bubble' by Vertigo has such honesty and insight that it had to win this week:

http://www.abctales.com/story/vertigo/my-boyfriend-lives-great-big-glass...

(05.01.08) I'm still not sure if I get every bit of Emblematic Trousers by lexy - but the bits I do get, I love. It takes a bit of reading, but it's very well worth it:

http://www.abctales.com/story/lexy/emblematic-trousers

(22.12.07) Growing Feathers by camilla is an excellent poem of hope and action - perfect for the time of year:

http://www.abctales.com/story/camilla/growing-feathers

(14.12.07) "Immigrants" by little ditty is one of those poems that brings to life a far larger human tragedy. Inspired:

http://www.abctales.com/story/littleditty/immigrants

(07.12.07) Yesterday, Today by careyssej is about the loosest 'poem' I've ever read - but the images and the juxtaposition are so good it had to win out:

http://www.abctales.com/story/careyssej/yesterday-today

(30.11.07) Open mic night, Holloway by chant is a centred by its language in its time and place - and to catch that timbre is impressive:

http://www.abctales.com/story/chant/holloway-open-mic-night

(23.11.07) Be warned, Seventh Circle by rokkitnite is not for the faint hearted or the easily offended - but it is gloriously funny:

http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/seventh-circle

(16.11.07) The Joys of American Motels by dreamscatcher makes a fine point very well:

http://www.abctales.com/story/dreamscatcher/joys-american-motels

(09.11.07) Can't quite by span is one of those slippery poems that you can't quite get hold of. Delicious:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/cant-quite

(02.11.07) Troll boy by hellen is just such an odd poem that it has you going back to it time after time. For its sheer originality, it gets the nod:

http://www.abctales.com/story/hellen/troll-boy

(26.10.07) It's been something of a nostalgia week on ABCtales and Walking The Dog by anipani just hit the right note:

http://www.abctales.com/story/anipani/walking-dog

(19.10.07) Laura Brown by lukewright is just so stunningly raw, brutal and honest that it rips out of the page:

http://www.abctales.com/story/lukewright/laura-brown

(12.10.07) OK Alone by crush is that rare thing - a self revelatory poem that doesn't hide its meaning - and is very good. This is accessible poetry at its best:

http://www.abctales.com/story/crush/ok-alone

(5.10.07) I think that Truth by artisus gets so much into one short poem that it leaves you gasping - and reading it again:

http://www.abctales.com/story/artisus/truth

(28.09.07) The Possibilities by Leonie says everything you need to know about travelling on and on and on. It's a glorious evocation of that feeling when you just want to turn inwards once more:

http://www.abctales.com/story/leonie/possibilities

(21.9.07) These Walls by andrew oldham is stuffed full of fantastic nostalgic images but it has a bitter/sweet tone to it as well that rings very true:

http://www.abctales.com/story/andrewoldham/these-walls

(14.9.07) B and Q by hejira j was the first poem I read on my return from holiday - and it really hit a chord. Family life, decorating, large shops - it's all here:

http://www.abctales.com/story/hejira-j/b-q

(31.8.07) 'I don't want anything bad to ever happen to you' by macmanaman is one of my favourite poems ever on this site. It just lights up a very basic and universal human emotion. Majestic:

http://www.abctales.com/node/565586

(24.8.07) Keeping Up with the Browns by Luigi Pagano is a 'real life' poem with an added twist. Nothing fancy here - but it's good, straightforward and thought provoking:

http://www.abctales.com/node/565573

(17.8.07) My tears by soraia almeida is a sexual and very personal poem. So many people try to do these - and very few succeed. It's good to find one that really works:

http://www.abctales.com/story/soraia-almeida/my-tears

(10.8.07) A stand out winner this week. WilkyBarKid's The Human Zoo has it all - images that scream with inner meaning, a consistent rhythmn, thought provoking ideas and a superb form:

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/human-zoo

(3.8.07) Old as Brass by Mupp has some wonderful images of musical instruments and old age:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mupp/old-brass

(27.07.07) Rage by Camilla is exactly as the title says. It is a ranting outpouring of pure venom - but the mixture of freedom, passion and control is spellbinding:

http://www.abctales.com/story/camilla/rage

(20.07.07) Horses by gilbert conjures up such vivid images that it's a 'must read':

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/horses

(13.07.07) Her Five Word Adage gets the top poem prize this week. Congrats to Wily Bar Kid.

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/her-five-word-adage

(6.7.07) Southall by macjoyce is a brilliantly written observation of the Asian enclave in North London:

http://www.abctales.com/story/macjoyce/southall

(29.06.07) Men of Bees by pinchus is a bit of fun. Not so easy to do, but when it's done well it's well worth it:

http://www.abctales.com/story/pinchus/men-bees

(22.06.07) Poetry often looks at the minutiae of life and makes big points from it. Nosebleed by fergal looks at the big picture from the start:

http://www.abctales.com/story/fergal/nosebleed

(15.06.07) A no brainer this week. My Fantasy Afternoon with Joni Mitchell by hejira-j is witty, sharp and beautifully observed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/hejira-j/fantasy-afternoon-joni-mitchell

(8.6.07) Poems can be intellectual and funny. Chant's 'Berkeley's Non-Cognitivism' is a gem. It will hit a chord with anyone who has discovered that most of academia is just putting in long words where short ones would do fine:

http://www.abctales.com/story/chant/berkeleys-non-cognitivism

(25.05.07) The Eyes Like To Watch by Spack is a hands down winner in a good week for poetry. Most of us who have spent any time in London will have had this thought at some time - but never has it been expressed so wittily or so well:

http://www.abctales.com/story/spack/eye-likes-watch

(18.05.07) I couldn't resist this poem from Midge. The Tiger Who Came to Tea is one of my favourite children's books of all time - and here the darker side of the equation is examined. Very good indeed:

http://www.abctales.com/story/midge/inviting-tiger-tea-0

(11.05.07) A week's absence due to birth of grandchild - so welcome Alfie and here's your first poem of the week! It's from aloe and describes that wonderful 'why won't you wake up' moment when you're lieing in bed with your partner. It's not sentimental - but it is very good:

http://www.abctales.com/story/aloe/it-rained-sunday-morning

(27.04.07) Andrew James has had an eventful week on ABC! To cap it off, his poem ‘Dandelions and Daisies’ is our poem of the week. I hope it is all your own work Andrew…

http://www.abctales.com/story/andrewjames/dandelions-and-daisies

(20.4.07) A bit of a brou-ha-ha this week. The previous poem selected for this spot would appear to closely resemble the work of Roger McGough. Apologies to Mr. McG. It has been removed and I have gone to the archives for this great piece on Insomnia by beef:

http://www.abctales.com/node/500261

(13.4.07) Coaxing The Girl by nonamepsalmist is a complex and multi-layered poem - but that doesn't make it 'difficult'. It's a real discovery and I'm looking forward to much more from this new member:

http://www.abctales.com/story/nonamepsalmist/coaxing-girl

(6.4.07) Look left, look right, run like bloody hell (for fred) by andrewoldham1 is beautifully crafted. It's nostalgic and heart warming but it's also a very good poem:

http://www.abctales.com/story/andrewoldham/look-left-look-right-run-bloo...

(30.3.07) Blow by ralph is a real return to form from one of our longest standing members. There's some really good lines in there, especially at the beginning, and a neat and satisfying conclusion. Poetry can tell a story, ralph proves it:

http://www.abctales.com/story/ralph/blow-0

(23.3.07) I loved Very Bad With Money by macmanaman - especially the lines about the cheque that bounced like a ping pong ball at a funeral - classic:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mcmanaman/very-bad-money

(16.3.07) The Belt by steve button is so well constructed that you just have to read it over and over again:

http://www.abctales.com/story/steve-button/belt

(9.3.07) Strain by span mixes superb visual images with a tantalising use of simple language. It's a poem you will want to read over and over again:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/strain

(2.3.07) An absolute stand-out Poem this week, nominated by Juliet OC and commended by one and all. It's Chance Memorial by Fergal. Read it and weep:

http://www.abctales.com/story/fergal/chance-memorial

(23.2.07) A Crash of Bangers and Mash by WilkyBarKid describes one of those splendid moments when one can only watch the action. It's that one step of removal that makes it so compelling:

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/crash-bangers-and-mash

(16.2.07) o, oxford street by brighteyes is listed as a poem, so I guess it is! Whatever, it's a brilliant stream of words and images that encapsulates a trip to that mecca of shopping hell:

http://www.abctales.com/story/brighteyes/o-oxford-street

(9.2.07) jack cade's the Warlock Hits Town is witty, pungent and original. This could be a whole new genre for poetry:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jack-cade/warlock-hits-town

(2.2.07) He Put A Crimp In My Day by span is just an extraordinary extrapolation of that thing that makes the day go wrong, that makes you feel differently - but she puts it so much better:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/he-put-a-crimp-in-my-day

(26/1/07) Flurries by Scanners2 is about English and how well some people, to whom it is not their first language, use it. It's also about quite a lot more...

http://www.abctales.com/story/scanners2/flurries-0

(19.1.07) Meeting Myself on the London Underground in the Holiday Season by nicola 6 is a story poem with real bite. Magical...

http://www.abctales.com/story/nicola6/meeting-myself-on-the-london-under...

(12.1.07) The Wilky Bar Kid is strong and tough and only the best is good enough, ennit?

http://www.abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/a-shot-of-sunday

(5.1.07) 'I am cultivating a fear of my face' by span is a stand out winner this week. It needs no explanation but says a lot in very few words:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/i-am-cultivating-a-fear-of-my-face

(23.12.06) So by gilbert is a timely poem about what's necessary to create peace...

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/so

(15.12.06) I've had to dig way back to find a good poem this week but midge's 'The Caterpillar Speaks in Tongues' is well worthy of the award...

http://www.abctales.com/story/midge/the-caterpillar-speaks-in-tongues

(8.12.06) barely black francis has crafted an image with 'Dixie' that will live on in the mind of the reader...

http://www.abctales.com/story/barely-black-francis/dixie

(1.12.06) Jeggers has done something really quite rare with 'Derek Hargreaves Esquire' - he's written a very accessible, witty and sharply observed poem. It's not easy...

http://www.abctales.com/story/jeggers/derek-hargreaves-enquires

(24.11.06) A tough choice this week - there's been a plethora of excellent poetry of late - but 1001 Nights Now by brighteyes is a stand-out. It's clever, quirky and yet utterly accessible:

http://www.abctales.com/story/brighteyes/1001-nights-now-0

(17.11.06) macmanaman has been around on ABCtales for years and he's much appreciated. We're Going To Own This Bar says everything about those holiday daydreams....

http://www.abctales.com/story/mcmanaman/were-going-to-own-this-bar

(3.11.06) macserp's 'heliotrope' could so easily have been maudlin and overly sentimental - but it isn't, and that takes a sure touch:

http://www.abctales.com/story/macserp/heliotrope

(20.10.06) Apologies for a missed week but this gem from camilla makes up for it. Mist wraiths takes us into those wintry mornings in the woods - and adds all that our feeble imaginations do not see:

http://www.abctales.com/story/camilla/mist-wraiths

(6.10.06) Midge's poem Escaping Into The Sea is an image-laden extravaganza. It'll take you to places you know and put a whole new spin on the experience:

http://www.abctales.com/story/midge/escaping-into-the-sea

(29.09.06) Hellen's poem is tender, heartfelt and very well constructed. The title is inspired:

http://www.abctales.com/story/hellen/lady-in-waiting

(23.09.06) Oops, a day late. It has been a fine week for poetry, however this was not a difficult decision to make. Picasso by Littleditty is a visceral feast that showcases a skillful control of language with a powerful pigment effect.

http://www.abctales.com/story/littleditty/picasso

(15.09.06) Waiting for the Greyhound Bus by Ivoryfishbone is a charming string of chinese boxes.
In fact so charming that it alters my view on poems that self reference and overrides the fact that she has recently held the poem of the week. Hats off to Ivoryfishbone!

http://www.abctales.com/story/ivoryfishbone/waiting-for-the-greyhound-bu...

(08.09.06) Nook by Rokkitnite features a dead rat and a stolen baby and is chock with oddly precise images. A marked change of direction for a perfromance poet normally concerned with humour and pop culture.

http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/nook

(31.8.06) Melancholy by Nichola6 captures that moment of deep and bitter angst with such precision. I'm sure we can all relate to this wonderful poem....

http://www.abctales.com/story/nicola6/melancholy

(22.8.06) Love of Damage by jack cade is a difficult poem to read. It's cold and divorced from its subject - which makes it so much stronger. A real tour de force...

http://www.abctales.com/story/jack-cade/love-of-damage

(14.8.06) Ivoryfishbone is one of our longest serving members and one of our very best poets. Harvest demonstrates her spare use of language, her directness and her charm...

http://www.abctales.com/story/ivoryfishbone/harvest

(4.8.06) cudo cudo is surpised that we can take what we want from the world - but it makes for an inspiring and thought provoking poem...

http://www.abctales.com/story/cudo-cudo/i-am-surprised-we-can-take-what-...

(21/7/06) Oh dear - another little break - apologies. Will get back to weekly now! In any case here's a treat to be going on with - Macjoyce's extraordinary 'Uncle Eddie versus the female species'. It owes something to Lear and maybe some of the rhyme ot Masefield or Betjeman. It's rude and quirky and well worth a read:

http://www.abctales.com/story/macjoyce/uncle-eddie-versus-the-female-spe...

(4/7/06) After a brief hiatus, Poem of the Week is back! Ouroboros by Gilbert is packed with lines that stick around for days.

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/ouroboros

(15/06/06) A Three Pipe Problem by Brighteyes is the recommenation of Fergal. she commends the 'good, exacting imagery and wonderful use of words' and I cannot but agree:

http://www.abctales.com/node/553564

(09/06/06) Spack is back on top form with this poem, recommended by Barely Black Francis....

http://www.abctales.com/story/spack/sorry-i-make-you-lush

(02/06/06) I can't quite understand how Bosch has been overlooked for Poem of the Week so far. This one is just mind numbingly wonderful...

http://www.abctales.com/story/bosch/a-yes-you

(26/05/06) Barely Black Francis is one of our finest poets here on ABCtales - and he's come up with a real gem here. I'm just Wild about his Rhubarb...

http://www.abctales.com/story/barely-black-francis/wild-about-your-rhuba...

(19/05/06) Rokkitnite is off to the Hay on Wye Festival where he is sure to have a huge hit with this poem. 'Local Poet Slams Press' is funny, rude and provocative...

http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/local-poet-slams-press

(12/05/06) Marks in the Morning by span has been nominated by fergal - and it's a choice I cannot but fail to fall in with. It's just very very good:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/marks-in-the-morning

(5/5/06) I couldn't believe it when I noticed that spack hasn't had a Poem of the Week since its re-introduction. I fell in love with this poem on its first reading. After many more, I like it even better:

http://www.abctales.com/story/spack/the-ditto-machines

(24/04/06) 'By The Radiator' by 27 is not an elegant poem. Nor is it a complicated poem. It is, however, a heartfelt poem filled with incongruities of the final days of a loved one, where the awful extra-ordinariness of death mingles with the mundane and meaningless of everyday life:

http://www.abctales.com/story/27/by-the-radiator-0

(7/04/06) I know that I've selected Gilbert before but this poem just screamed quality at me. The imagery is sublime:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/snowblind-0

(30/3/06) Sychar by poetjude contains so many images it makes Bob Dylan look sparse. This is religious poetry at its very best...

http://www.abctales.com/story/poetjude/sychar

(21/3/06) Hall by Parker tells of the imprints we leave behind in a very literal and telling manner:

http://www.abctales.com/story/parker/hall

(13/3/06) Lttle Ditty's The Golden Egg is a classic of observation. It says a lot about the protagonists and about the observer in a tiny snapshot across a cafe floor:

http://www.abctales.com/story/littleditty/the-golden-egg

(3/3/06) The Secret Life of Chairs by gilbert was nominated by archergirl as Poem of the Week - and she couldn't have chosen better. It says so much with so few words, sparse, original and haunting. It's a must read:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/the-secret-life-of-chairs

(24/2/06) 'Wrong' by span isn't wrong at all. It's like a little mystery without a resolution. What's wrong? What's happened? It's like we get to see the outline of an event without the event itself being anywhere in site:

http://www.abctales.com/story/span/wrong

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(17/2/06) 'Werner Herzog Helped Joaquin Phoenix From a Car Wreck' by Rokkitnite is like an American sitcom version of JG Ballard, awash with sharp images that sparkle like windscreen glass on wet tarmac. It's a smash!

http://www.abctales.com/story/rokkitnite/werner-herzog-helped-joaquin-ph...

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Archergirl's Poem has a long title - but it's a cracker. The loss of innocence is a well-worn path for the poet but this one (10/2/06) is original and poignant:

http://www.abctales.com/story/archergirl/on-cosmopolitan-and-mutual-defl...

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(3/2/06) Epic by lib is an excellent poem, small, neat and self-contained but suggestive of greater mysteries and intrigues. It's like a little Brian Eno tune, just a tiny sparse melody floating in space which ends just as soon as you've gotten used to it then stays in your head forever:

http://www.abctales.com/story/lib/epic

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Poetry can be funny - and this dry, witty little piece from Luigi Pagano is just right. Give yourself a wry smile this week (27/1/06) and enjoy:

http://www.abctales.com/story/luigi_pagano/the-husband-the-wife-and-the-...

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I love poetry that uses images to conjure metaphorical visions. Add in the biblical references and I'm in awe. Congratulations to Gilbert (20/1/06) for his Magdalene:

http://www.abctales.com/story/gilbert/magdalene

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This week (12/1/06) we have a wonderful reflective poem from Yutka. It's very poignant for me as this was the first year that my own son didn't make it home for Christmas - but is this what he really thinks of us? Yutka's verse is often based in the ordinary but through it he often makes profound and original statements:

http://www.abctales.com/story/yutka/a-son-is-home-for-christmas

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Many thanks to Bobblehat for suggesting this one (3/1/06). It's from span and it takes a bit of reading. Bobble says "it opens itself out backwards" and now I can see what he means. In any case: Rachel, I bought a new red coat:

http://www.abctales.com/node/546916

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It's at this time of year that we think of changing our lives, of reviewing our situation. This poem takes in all of that. It looks at our weaknesses and our strengths and uses allegory and image to make the human condition all too clear. A little gem called Knock by Jenifer:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jenifer/knock

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This week's Poem (9/12/05) is the first piece put up here by a new writer to us - mulekick. It contains images that disturb as well as enlighten, it provides thought provoking clues to the eternal question - why are we here? 'A Longing for Utility' is very good:

http://www.abctales.com/story/mulekick/a-longing-for-utility

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Our third poem of the week is a gem. It's from jvriesema who has been a member for some time but hasn't posted for a while - and then along comes this magnificent poem. It blends memorable images with human insight and is well worth reading over and over again:

http://www.abctales.com/story/jvriesema/in-the-eye-of-a-cello

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The second Poem of the Week is a bit of a blast from the past - but it's fitting in the week that Cardenio won the Haiku contest. It's neat, rhythmic and slightly obtuse - and I like it!

Congratulations to Abbacus for this one:

http://www.abctales.com/abbacus/fishpond

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Our first Poem of the Week of the new site comes from an excellent new writer on the site 'asparagus'. This one is esecially good, notably for what it doesn't say and for the image it creates in the reader's mind:

http://www.abctales.com/story/asparagus/now-look-here