This was my style of writing poems years ago. I had this poem published both in Romanian and its translation (my own of course). I was told I changed into better since then, but...I am not so proud of my achievements. This was the poem: in a lonely woman’s world each crack in the walls is a twinge among the ribs the neighbors’ footsteps weigh on her chest when she breathes if rats teem in the basement cold shivers climb her back elsewhere a...

Firstly a huge thank you to everyone who's supported Jack (celticman) since we last posted. With 93% and only another 24 pledges needed, we are so nearly there! He doesn't have the huge contact lists that many others do, so it's all hanging on our lovely ABCtales community to which he's given so much over the years. Please share this with your friends, pledge your support and help make his dream come true! http://unbound.co.uk/books/lily-poole

Down in the Valley The need to live won't stop me feeling suicidal, for instance, fear of facing death only wakes the will to live. It doesn't take away the lack of something real to live for, or fill the emptiness, or take away the hopelessness of what we are about to face. Looking down into that valley, my fear warns me to stand, and while my waning courage urges me to jump into the darkness, deep inside my soul I know I won't; I wouldn't be...

If you've ever published anything on ABCtales, the chances are celticman's helped you in one way or another. Now it's your turn to give something back. He only needs 38 more pledges to make his book a reality. Please pull out all the stops for him! http://unbound.co.uk/books/lily-poole

Writers Wasteland….I am there. This week has been fraught with never ending obligations. Work and home have monopolized my life to the point of stagnant. I have no thoughts to work with and no energy to give to my writing. I know there are weeks like this in every life and so I am not surprised by it…just frustrated. These are the days I wish I could sit upon white sand beaches or gaze up at snow capped mountains from a reclusive log cabin....

It's been a particularly fantastic week for prose this week - really exceptional quality, and I could have chosen any one of about ten pieces, but Crepuscular by RJF has stuck in my head and I don't even like horror much, so it must be good! Our Poem of the Week is Menarche which is an exceptional piece from love_writing who's going from strength to strength. Congratulations to both! http://www.abctales.com/story/lovewriting/menarche http://www...

It takes a certain sort of courage to say that you are wrong. Robert D Putnam thought all the hoo-ha of kids not being able to grow up and get on – the essence of the American dream, work hard, play hard and you’ll get your just rewards – was belly aching from those that had failed to thrive. In any society there are winners and losers. He was a winner. He didn’t come from a rich family, and through hard work became Malkin Professor of Public...

Tree Me I am a tree today More willow than oak I breathe with the flow Air in my hair - I pray For the fluster to calm Each quiver leaf - stilled Each bowing branch filled With soothing balm I am a willow, till tomorrow Laced with grace Will not break Will overcome all sorrow I am a tree bearing wind and rain Till they cut me back Burn me black Then I'll be ever free from pain

This book left me cold. I read an extract of the story of these sisters in The Observer a while back, one living and the other dead. I was intrigued. I know what I’m supposed to feel. What I’m supposed to say. But it feels a bit like someone leaning over the garden fence and saying yada, yada, yada and I’m saying yeh, yeh, yeh. That’s true. You’re right. I wish I’d thought of that. In the first act of J.B.Priestley’s An Inspector Calls stasis is...

As quite a few of you know going by the number of reads she gets, Bee has been writing a series of poetry and prose charting her journey since her cancer diagnosis. These are very special pieces, so we've decided to give her a little corner on the front page for them and we will also be featuring them on Facebook and Twitter along with our regular Picks of the Day. You should be seeing the first of these shortly so do watch out for them - and...