The Inaugural ABC Tales Superpoem

Posted by insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Thu, 16 Apr 2026

 

 

After the wonderful success of Penny4athought's excellent initiative, I'm very pleased to announce our brand new writing challenge, The Inaugural ABCTales Superpoem, which is Turlough's brilliant idea. Here's what he says:

 

 

I’m sure that everyone would agree with me if I were to say that ABCTales is a hotbed of talented writers, all working individually to turn out wonderful poetry and prose.

Also, the recently completed Penny’s Pass The Story challenge has been a great success as it’s shown how we can work together to write an entertaining story. I’m now wondering how good a poem we could write collectively.

So I’m suggesting that we each try writing a few lines of poetry, up to a maximum of seventeen words, and we put them all together in order of submission to create the first ever ABCTales Superpoem. Much of my inspiration came from Luigi’s comment that Penny’s challenge reminded him of the Consequences parlour game.

Here are the nuts and bolts of my plan.

a) The theme of the poem is ‘Memory’ which entrants can interpret in any way

they choose.

b) Anybody and everybody on the site is welcome to enter.

c) Entries are limited to one per member.

d) The number of words in any entry is limited to seventeen.

e) Members should send their entries via email to insertponceyfrenchnamehere.

Her email address is claudine@abctales.com

f) It is very important that entrants include their ABCTales username in their

email and state whether they wish to be anonymous or not.

g) The entries will be forwarded to me and I will add them in order of receipt to

the Superpoem.

h) The cutoff point for submitting entries will be at British midnight on Sunday 3

May 2026.

i) The completed poem will be posted on ABCTales on Tuesday 5 May

2026.

j) For every entry received I will contribute one British pound to the ABC coffers.

However, as we currently have 20,098 members and I’m only a poor

pensioner, I’d like to limit my contribution to a maximum of forty pounds.

I think this is easy to enter and the end result will reflect the skills of a broad range of

ABC members, so I’m hoping we have a good turnout.

Thank you and good luck!

Turlough

 

 

Comments

Submitted by GlosKat on

Well done Turlough !  I'll have a go and make a small donation as an entry fee.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Dear Kat and everybody else.

Anybody can make a donation if they wish but the plan is that it's ME who makes a donation of £1 for every entry that is submitted, up to a maximum of £40.

Although I'm sure that every penny handed over to ABC Tales is always accepted with gratitude and glee, there is no obligation to pay an entry fee for the Superpoem challenge.

All that's required is a few lines of your poetry, up to a maximum of seventeen words. Then you can sit back and relax until it all comes together and the ABCTales Superpoem is born.

Good luck!

 

Turlough

Submitted by GlosKat on

Sorry Turlough I didn't mean to give anyone the wrong impression.  I would just like to, entirely voluntarily, add a little extra.

 

Submitted by insertponceyfre... on

Gloskat, that's very kind of you - looking forward to my sneak peeks before I forward the entries to Turlough!

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Ah Kat, what a kind lady you are. 

smiley

Turlough

Submitted by GlosKat on

Not as kind as you !  I'm sure that 40 pounds would buy a house in Malki Chiflik, or even pay Ludo's vet's bills for a whole year smiley

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Ludo needs to win the lottery or cash in his premium bonds or something to finance his medical treatment that's spiralling out of control. He hasn't been outside for over a month but he's still managed to sustain an injury in the last twenty-four hours. There's no blood or seepage this time but he winces when we touch him, as if he's got bruised ribs. He's probably fallen off something whilst fighting with one of our other cats.

Even if nobody enters this challenge thing I'm going to donate Ludo to ABC Tales. Experience tells me that there is no greater challenge than being his owner.

Turlough

Submitted by GlosKat on

Life's all a game to Ludo
He is our moggy hero
He prob'ly costs as much to run
As the Ludi games cost Nero
/)__(\
(='.'=)
(")_(") 

Kat

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Ludo’s no respect for cash or inflictions

Like allergies, wounds or ticks

He’s hoping they’ll introduce a brand-new event

For the scabbiest cat in the Olympics

Turlough

Submitted by celticman on

grand idea. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Sent my 17 words in today. Good on you for setting a great challenge and being so generous, T.

And good luck to all who sail in her.

Can't wait for the final version!

Marching on together....

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you Paul, and well done in Europe!

Turlough

Submitted by Turlough on

The ABC Tales Superpoem challenge has been up and running for a full day now and we already have seven entries. So thank you very, very much to everyone who has submitted their bit of poetry. It’s taking shape and it’s looking good.

Thank you too if you’re one of the many people who have read the announcement, and good luck to you if you’re in the process of composing your own contribution. Please note, the suggestion is up to a maximum of seventeen words. You don’t need to write exactly seventeen words, but you can if you want.

It can be deep and meaningful or it can be the first thing that comes into your head (or maybe even both) but whatever you submit will be greatly appreciated and I hope you’ll enjoy taking part.

Happy weekend!

Turlough

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Look forward to seeing what will surely be a masterpiece.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi insert, I tried submitting an entry for The inaugural ABC Tales superpoem, but couldn't get anywhere with the above contact. 

In the end I went on to your track email. I hope you managed to get my entry.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by insertponceyfre... on

Hi Jenny - I'm so pleased you're having a go. Unfortunately your email didn't reach me though. I'll email you now and you can reply to that. Don't forget to say if you want to be anonymous!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you insert, yes

Jenny.