Story and Poem of the Month

Posted by insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sun, 01 Feb 2026

Our Story and Poem of the Month for January, very kindly chosen by Airyfairy:

 

 

 

 

A great start to the year on ABCTales! There's been lots of fun, a few scary bits, some beautiful observation, and some thoughtful reflections on what's going on in the world. The variety is what makes the site so rewarding. It also makes Monthly Picks extremely difficult. Thank you to everyone who's contributed by writing, reading and commenting.

 
SoulFire77's series about The Less Miserables is definitely one of my story recommendations. It took me by surprise. This writer's work is always rewarding, but a series about a bunch of kids working on their skateboard techniques? It turned out to be three tales full of humour, insight and humanity. This is the first, and do go on to read the other two:  The Less Miserables Land a Gap (1) | ABCtales
Another recommendation is TJW's IP response, The Fix It Man in Florida. Very funny, very relatable, and brilliantly written. Enjoy: The Fix It Man in Florida - IP | ABCtales
 
Story of the Month goes to Chapter 3 of Bron, by Ivan the OK-ish. Obviously everyone should read all the chapters of this wonderful work in progress, but this one in particular stands out for its wit, its anarchy, and its brilliant characters. You can read it as a stand-alone piece, but you're doing yourself out of a really intriguing read if you don't have a look at the rest:  Bron-3 | ABCtales 
 
The poets have also been at the top of their game this month. Angusfolklore's Ambre Solaire is a masterclass in using a mundane object to convey memory, hope, disappointment and nostalgia all in one deceptively simple package: Ambre Solaire | ABCtales  Marandina's beautiful Uphill takes the reader completely into the landscape it describes, and also into a moment of stillness and reflection, where past and present slide into each other: Uphill, January 29th 2026 | ABCtales Both reward many repeated readings.
 
Poem of the Month is Jane Hyphen's Gloom and Doom. Part of me was quite determined, this month, to choose pieces that provide an escape from current times, but this poem is just so good, and has an absolutely killer last stanza. It made me think of Auden's '1st September 1939'. Jane's poem may not be cheery, but it's honest and passionate, and should be read by everyone:  Gloom and Doom (sorry) | ABCtales
 
Thanks again for all the contributions!