Story and Poem of the Month

Our Story and Poem for December, very kindly chosen by Drew Gummerson:

It’s always an honour to do this, to choose the Story and Poem of the Month. I’ve been looking over the past few days at December’s entries and once again I’m impressed by the quality and range of writing on the site. 

 

Story of Month

 

First some notable mentions. 

 

It wouldn’t be December if I didn’t flag a Christmas story and Mac_Ashton’s Yuletide Loops is a brilliant one. A Groundhog Christmas Day…

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/macashton/yuletide-loops

 

I like it when continuing stories are posted on the site and Jane Hyphen’s Parcel for You is an excellent one, Spencer the Robot an excellent creation. If Victoria Wood had made a movie it might have been this one. 

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/jane-hyphen/parcel-youpart-10

 

What I like most is a distinctive unique voice. And Simon Barget has that in spades. Lenny is yet another brilliant creation, conjuring a sense of unease, meaning just out of reach. 

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/simon-barget/lenny

 

 

But my Pick of Month goes to Turlough, or rather, Turlough Ó Maoláin, age 8 1/2. This  ‘confession’ perfectly captures the childhood voice. Loved it. 

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/turlough/children-absolution

 

Poem of Month

 

 

Again, first some notable mentions. 

 

We are blessed, we all know that, to have onemorething on the site. Again and again she just nails it. 

 

The Witches of Long Compton is a poem to read out by the fireside on a cold winter’s night. You’ll see…

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/onemorething/witches-long-compton

 

And another entry by Turlough, also with a cold winter theme. Anyone else have to look up Piblokto though?

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/turlough/piblokto

 

I loved socialeaf’s Nick Cave Working. It perfectly encapsulates performance and it has the coolest picture of the month!

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/socialeaf/nick-cave-working

 

 But it is another socialeaf poem I have chosen as Pick of the Month. As others have said I love the imagery, the killer title and last line. 

 

Satsuma Rinds. 

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/socialeaf/satsuma-rinds