Here is my first post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022, my first time participating as I’m relatively new to the blogging world. I’m looking forward to engaging with more of this wonderful community through this challenge. For those that don’t know me, I’m a writer/illustrator/blogger based in Shanghai, China. You can learn more about me here.
My title and theme for this challenge is “Seriously Silly Poetry” in recognition of April being poetry month and also wanting to do something fun and playful to celebrate spring. Seriously Silly Poetry will include poems from A to Z that are inspired by the child in me and other creatives that celebrate childhood (such as Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, etc.). All of the poetry and illustrations will be creations from me. Most will be original creations for this series, but from time to time I will pull from one of my illustrated books or earlier posts if it fits with the theme.
I hope you enjoy this series. Welcome to Monty’s Blahg!
This post is a repost of a fairly recent poem and I hesitated to use this as the first post, but it’s so perfect for the theme I couldn’t help myself. My original thought was to use this poem and illustration for a new picture book for children, but my son pointed out that the language might be a bit to advanced for that purpose. However, its still fun and playful and most importantly I love it! So here it is.
Apples Eating Zebras
by Monty Vern
a Golden Shovel from “Ars Poetica” by Archibald MacLeish

Apples eating zebras and z’s to a
I cobble together words in a poem
Making nonsense I should not but should
Gobble up wobbles and play vocab tricks to be
Escaping tricky corners with palpable
Tight and twisty turns and
Flamboyant gestures of an eloquent mute
Breaking forms with made-up rhymes as
A wanna-be poet throwing a
Bucket of colorful words upon a globed
Canvas and calling it a bowl of fruit.
Be well,
Monty

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- Z is for ZoomorphismZoomorphism is a literary technique in which animal attributes are imposed upon non-animal objects, humans, and events. literarydevices.net Well look at that. We’ve come allContinue reading “Z is for Zoomorphism”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Z is for ‘Zig-Zag’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Z is for ‘Zig-Zag’”
- Y is for hYpophoraA figure of speech, hYpophoria is when a writer raises a question, and then immediately provides an answer to that question. literarydevices.net Well, well, well.Continue reading “Y is for hYpophora”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Y is for ‘You’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Y is for ‘You’”
- X is for eXpletiveExpletive is a grammatical construction that starts with words like it, here, and there. It does not contribute to the meaning of a sentence butContinue reading “X is for eXpletive”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: X is for ‘X (Marks the Spot)’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: X is for ‘X (Marks the Spot)’”
- W is for WitWit is a clever expression of thought intended to make readers laugh. literarydevices.net Oh no. No. No. No. This is dangerous ground. Asking an almostContinue reading “W is for Wit”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: W is for ‘Winter’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: W is for ‘Winter’”
- V is for VignetteA vignette is a small impressionistic scene, an illustration, a descriptive passage, a short essay that is neither a plot nor a full narrative description,Continue reading “V is for Vignette”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: V is for ‘Village’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: V is for ‘Village’”
- U is for UnderstatementAn understatement is a figure of speech used to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is. literarydevices.net Well this should beContinue reading “U is for Understatement”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: U is for ‘Upside Down’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: U is for ‘Upside Down’”
- T is for TrochaicTrochaic is a rhythmic unit composed of two syllables — stressed followed by an unstressed syllable — used in poetry. literarydevices.net Oh cool! I’ve beenContinue reading “T is for Trochaic”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: T is for ‘Thief’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: T is for ‘Thief’”
- S is for SynesthesiaSynesthesia refers to a technique of presenting ideas, characters, or places in such a manner that they appeal to more than one sense, like hearing,Continue reading “S is for Synesthesia”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: S is for ‘Sweet Tea’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: S is for ‘Sweet Tea’”
- R is for RhymeRhyme is a literary device in which identical or similar concluding syllables in different words are repeated. literarydevices.net There were a lot of choices forContinue reading “R is for Rhyme”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: R is for ‘Raindrops’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: R is for ‘Raindrops’”
- Q is for QuatrainA quatrain is four lines of verse. literarydevices.net There is no required rhyme scheme or syllable count to qualify as a quatrain…but I can’t helpContinue reading “Q is for Quatrain”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Q is for ‘Questions’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Q is for ‘Questions’”
- P is for PseudonymA pseudonym is a fictitious name or an alias. literarydevices.net I’ve chosen to use a pseudonym for my writing (my given name isn’t Monty Vern,Continue reading “P is for Pseudonym”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: P is for ‘Poetry’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: P is for ‘Poetry’”
- O is for OxymoronOxymoron is a figure of speech paring two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. literarydevices.net I was tempted to be lazy today and pullContinue reading “O is for Oxymoron”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: O is for ‘Oops’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: O is for ‘Oops’”
- N is for NostalgiaNostalgia is pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again. literarydevices.net Nostalgia seemsContinue reading “N is for Nostalgia”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: N is for ‘Night’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: N is for ‘Night’”
- M is for MetaphorA metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two non-similar things. literarydevices.net I originally created this post for C is forContinue reading “M is for Metaphor”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: M is for ‘Monty at Play’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: M is for ‘Monty at Play’”
- L is for LimerickA limerick is a poem of five lines in a single stanza with rhyme scheme AABBA and usually intended to be humorous and suggestive. literarydevices.netContinue reading “L is for Limerick”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: L is for ‘Love Bug’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: L is for ‘Love Bug’”
- K is for KenningA kenning is a stylistic device defined as a two-word phrase that describes and object through metaphors (also described as a ‘compressed metaphor’) literarydevices.net ThisContinue reading “K is for Kenning”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: K is for ‘Kaleidoscope’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: K is for ‘Kaleidoscope’”
- J is for JuxtapositionJuxtaposition is implied comparison by placing two entities side by side to create dramatic or ironic contrast. literarydevices.net This is a technique that I’m sureContinue reading “J is for Juxtaposition”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: J is for ‘Jam’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: J is for ‘Jam’”
- I is for Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter is a poem beat that uses 10 syllables in each line in which an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable. literarydevices.netContinue reading “I is for Iambic Pentameter”
- My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: I is for ‘Icky’On this anniversary of my first A to Z challenge, I’m posting each of the illustrated “seriously silly poems” from my book Apples Eating ZebrasContinue reading “My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: I is for ‘Icky’”
- H is for HorrorHorror is a fictional genre that evokes strong feelings of shock, terror, revulsion, fear or outrage. literarydevices.net If you were to ask me if I’mContinue reading “H is for Horror”
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- G is for Gustatory ImageryGustatory Imagery allows the readers to imagine the sense of taste while reading a poem or text. literarydevices.net Yummy! I’m going to pull out anContinue reading “G is for Gustatory Imagery”
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- F is for Fiction (#AtoZ 2023)Fiction encompasses stories that are created, invented, and made-up by the writer. literarydevices.net I was an avid creative writer of fiction when I first startedContinue reading “F is for Fiction (#AtoZ 2023)”
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- E is for Elegy (#AtoZ 2023)Elegy is a form of poetry that reflects on death or loss literarydevices.net For those that have been following me regularly, you know that I’veContinue reading “E is for Elegy (#AtoZ 2023)”
I hope I am commenting on the right post ? ! Firstly I LOVE UR blog name – Monty’s Blahg. I am a fellow writer and content creator too by profession. Welcome to A to Z from a fellow poet 😉 and anything to string words and present it as a fruit bowl is worth applause. All the best – https://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/
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Thanks Afsha! I appreciate the read and feedback. I’ll be sure to check out your blog too:-)
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Welcome to the AtoZ – I hope you have a wonderful time. I love this part of your poem the most:
“A wanna-be poet throwing a
Bucket of colorful words upon a globed
Canvas and calling it a bowl of fruit.”
Brings up such lovely imagery and made me smile. Thank you.
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings: YouTube – What They Don’t Tell You
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Thanks Tasha! I really appreciate your read and feedback!
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I checked out your “A” post as well. I think I successfully commented although it didn’t show up immediately.
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Welcome to your first A-Z!
Looking forward to read more of your seriously silly poetry!
Hopping in from the A-Z community,
Dream
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Thanks! Coming over to check out your post now!
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Excellent poem. I am also using poetry for the A to Z challenge this year, A to Z limericks and today’s limerick while new to my blog is recycled from my facebook page from 8 years ago. I will be writing many new limericks exclusively for the challenge.
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Nice!! I’ll check yours out. Thanks for the read and feedback. Good to have a fellow poet to follow!
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This definitely qualifies as silly–and fun!
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Thanks so much Jacqui! 🤪
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Monty – welcome to the A to Z challenge and to the blogsphere. You fit in so well with great poetry and art. Looking forward to getting to know you better. I veered off from poetry this year and posting a story that I wrote while I spent several summers in Ukraine. Enjoy the month.
https://moondustwriter.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/authors-ukraine-fiction-atozchallenge/
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Thanks so much! I appreciate the read and the welcome. I oscillate between writing poetry, prose, and illustration/art. I just go where the muse pulls and I find it fun (and therapeutic). Coming over to read your piece now.
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Welcome to the A to Z Challenge. Hope you find it as rewarding as I have over the many years I’ve done it. You’ve started things off very appropriately.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out Battle of the Bands
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Thanks so much Arlee! I’m coming over to check your post now.
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Good start to the challenge! Hope it goes as smoothly for the rest…
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Thanks John!
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I’m delighted to have made my way here on the first day of the challenge – I’m so glad your playing. So much to love here! Fun poem, super fabulous illustration, and a golden shovel. How does it get better than that? Wishing you a fun challenge!
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Aww! You made my day with this feedback!!! Thank you so much 😊
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Wonderful first post! I hope you enjoy the challenge!
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Thanks GF!
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Fun! Glad you joined the A-to-Z Challenge, too.
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Thanks Rosie!
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LOL! That was fun! 🙂 Welcome to A to Z!
anna
https://blog.annatsp.com/2022/04
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Thanks Anna. Coming over now to check out your post.
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A great start of the challenge and a very creative drawing! 😀
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Thanks so much!
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Welcome to the blogging world, you’ll love it here! I admire you folks who can simply take words and make poetry (be it serious or silly, romantic or sad, deep or funny!) – so hang around and keep blogging! Nice to see your A-Zs, will keep hopping around a bit reading more!
Cheers,
Deepa from FictionPies
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Thanks Deepa! I appreciate your encouragement.
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Wondering if your illustration is a print of some kind.
https://findingeliza.com/archives/36063
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Hi Kristen – the illustration is an original digital art piece that I created. I’ve actually used it as the cover of my book that includes all of the poems from this series. But I haven’t made it available as a print or anything as yet.
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Hi! I’m visiting from April A to Z roadtrip! The apple and zebra illustration is so cool!! I’ll have to check out a few of your other poems!
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Aww. Thank you so much! Appreciate your stopping by for a visit and letting me know. 🙂
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Fun poem to honor A to Z! I’m visiting for the A to Z Road Trip.
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Thanks so much for stopping by on your road trip!
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Visiting from the A to Z Road Trip. I see that I have already commented on this post. I have read some of your poems from the challenge. My favorite so far is Don’t Worry. https://dave-homeschooldad.blogspot.com/2022/06/to-live-each-day.html
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Thanks so much for your visit! I’ll stop by your site soon.
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Stopping by from the A to Z Road Trip. I especially like your illustration!
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Thanks for visiting!!
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Very fun poem! I’m glad you joined the challenge.
Stopping by from the A to Z ROAD TRIP!
“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” – Jim Rohn
I recently completed the Bout of Books readathon and the latest WEP flash fiction.
Fun fact: August is the only name of a month that’s also a popular name among 👶 baby boys.
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
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Thanks so much! Sorry just found this comment in my spam folder.
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Hello! I’m finally out and about on the 2022 A to Z Road Trip to visit everyone’s blogs. I’ve read through all of your ‘silly’ poems. They are delightful. The world needs more light-hearted experiences.
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Thanks so much for your kind words!! I’m glad to have shared a bit of lightheartedness 🙂
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