Category Archives: A to Z

#AtoZ in 2023 Theme Reveal

Well it’s coming on April and that means its time to prepare for another #AtoZChallenge. Last year was my first year participating and my theme was “seriously silly poetry from A to Z”. It was a ton of work, but also a lot of fun and even led me to publishing a book! As a bonus during this year’s challenge, I’ll be posting the fully illustrated poems from my book letter by letter throughout April. Stay tuned for that.

This year, I’ve settled on a theme that frankly I’m a little nervous about as I’m not sure how I will manage it. It will consist of two components. The first will be a bit of writing inspired from a literary device or form. I’m not restricting the type of writing — it could be poems or prose or essay, but each piece will be inspired by and illustrate the use of a literary device or technique (some may be formal while other may be more informal). For example “A is for Alliteration” will showcase the use of alliteration. As for the rest of the alphabet…I’ll let you know as I go along because I’ll be figuring it out on the fly.

The second component of the challenge will be visual. I’ll be constructing a black and white “found” pattern from each of the letters. By “found” pattern, I mean that I will discover the pattern organically without any predetermined outcome but all starting from the physical shape of the subject letter of the alphabet. My graphic for the series below exemplifies this.

I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding my theme and welcome any suggestions on specific literary devices/techniques to consider during my alphabetical journey.

Be well,

Monty

A to Z Book Launch & Give-a-Way: Updated with Winner (#AtoZ)

I’ve had a blast with this years #AtoZChallenge and my theme of “Seriously Silly Poetry”. And the response from all of you has been amazingly supportive. To celebrate, I’ve compiled the series into a beautiful 100-page book, which I’ve dedicated to the child in all of us. Also, I’m going to give one copy away randomly to one of you that comment on this post*. Thank you for all of your encouragement.

Link to Buy

*The book give-a-way will be either paperback or e-book (choice of the receiver) and can either sent to the “winner” or anyone of their choice as a gift of silly love. We’ll figure out the logistics when we get to that point. I’ll select the “winner” on 9am May 4th (China Standard Time).

UPDATE

Based on random* selection, I’m happy to announce that murisopsis from A Different Perspective is the winner of the book give-a-way. Congratulations! I’ll be in touch so that we can figure out the logistics. I hope you enjoy your copy of “Apples Eating Zebras and other seriously silly poetry”.

Be well,

Monty

My First A to Z Challenge Reflection (#AtoZ)

Well my first A to Z challenge has come to a close and I must say I’m pretty impressed with what I managed to put together for my theme of Seriously Silly Poetry. Each post included a silly (or sometimes a bit more sweet than silly) poem with a fun illustration.

Three Most Popular Post (by views):

#1: A is for Apples Eating Zebras (56 views)

#2: B is for Butt in the Air (53 views)

#3: I is for Icky (43 views)

Most Overlooked Post (by views):

U is for Upside Down (13 views) – this is worth a look if you missed it!

New Blogs Discovered & Followed (WP)

The Sound of One Hand Typing

Outside Perception

This is Another Story

Musings of a CowCorn

Christina Dankert

This is Another Story

Enchanted Words

Hopes & Dreams

Blogs I Read A to Z:

No Love for Fatties

What Sandra Thinks

The Confusing Middle

MidLife Cat Lady

Martha Reynolds’s Writes

Proudest A to Z Achievement:

I wrote and published a book! Apples Eating Zebras and other seriously silly poetry is a compilation of my A to Z posts (with a lot of editing and some refinement). This 100-page fully illustrated book is fun and beautiful. Check it out!

Up till May 4th I’m running a launch celebration book give-a-way. Check here for a chance to “win”.

Did you enjoy this series? Let me know! I hope that you stick around as I’ve plenty of more content coming up. Best wishes to you all!

Be well,

Monty

Z is for…Zig-Zag! (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

A Zig-Zag Life

Life will zig. Life will zag.
Don’t hold on too tight, enjoy life’s zig-zag.

Life will wiggle. Life will wag.
It’s how it’s supposed to be, so don’t be mad.

Life’ll jig too then take a jag
It’s this way then that, just different, not bad.

For life’s lefts are alright.
And life’s rights are too.
Just keep on going,
It’s the thing to do.

When’ll we zig, wiggle, or jig?
Nobody knows.
When’ll we zag, waggle, or jag?
Guessing keeps us on our toes.

Sometimes are right for serious.
(like when something’s injurious)
Other times are right for silly.
(I’d argue more than many)

Life’s not always easy, but it’s full of surprise.
Always an adventure helping us become wise.

My advice is take life one day at a time.
Time moves that way anyway, so you’ll be always on-time.

And of course, enjoy every moment you can reading
seriously silly poetry — morn, day, and evening.

Did you enjoy this series? If yes, check out my new book Apples Eating Zebras and other seriously silly poetry where I’ve arranged each of these illustrated poems into a beautiful and fun 100-page book dedicated to the child in all of us. Details here.

Be well,

Monty

Y is for…You (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

You Are Special

This poem is all about you,
For you are very special to me
(after all, you’re reading my silly poetry)

But let’s pause a moment to be serious
Then we can get back to my silliness

I just want to say that you’re special,
A shining star, just the way you are

There’s no one else in the world like you
And that’s why I love you
So don’t forget, to love yourself too!

Are you enjoying this series? If yes, check out the book launch of Apples Eating Zebras and other seriously silly poetry where all of these poems have been collected into a beautiful fully illustrated 100-page book of A to Z silly poetry. Details here.

Be well,

Monty

X is for…X! (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

X is for X (marks the spot)

Be well,

Monty

W is for…Winter (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

When the Winter Got Cold

Growing up, when the winter got cold,
I awoke early and without being told,
I rekindled the fire in the wood stove.

While awaiting for the wood burning heat,
Up upon the stove I found my seat,
Shivering, so cold in bare feet.

Once the embers lit and their flames grew,
My feet began to warm and my tush too,
Slowly turning a rosy pink hue.

Ah, so cozy and nice!
But let me give you a little advice,
About a lesson I learned more than thrice.

If your sitting upon the stove top,
Be ready to get off with a hop,
For once the fire gets going it doesn’t stop.

If you smell smoke, you better jump quick,
Or it won’t be long before the smoke gets thick,
With your pajama bottoms acting the wick.

Mom wasn’t happy about my pajama’s new spots,
They didn’t quite match the patterns on the tops,
For they say stripes don’t work well with polka-dots.

But I’ll treasure these warm memories,
The cozy feeling as winter chill leaves,
And the rising smoke around me weaves.

When Winter comes each year with its cold,
Remembering these moments never gets old,
And so this story once again gets told.

Be well,

Monty

V is for…Village (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

Some Say it Takes a Village

Some say it takes a village to raise a family,
And I don’t disagree;

But let me tell you about a village of one
Who had every job to be done;

She was mayor and waiter,
And alligator baiter;

She was car racer, baby chaser,
And don’t forget baker, butcher, and ice cream maker;

She was cop (when we needed to stop!)
And that was on top of wielding a mop;

She was bank teller, sometimes but rarely, a yeller,
And the absolute best story teller.

Some say it takes a village to raise a family,
And I don’t disagree;
For my mom was a village and she raised me
(and did a pretty good job, I think we’d all agree).

This one goes out to you, mom, on my birthday,
Thank you for raising me the kindest way —
Loving me every single day.

Be well,

Monty

U is for… Upside Down! (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

Upside Down and Inside Out

Daddy! Daddy! Let’s play around!
Throw me in the air upside down!
Spin me round and round!

Ok, buddy, up you go,
You’re flying now, its my highest throw!
Now your turning, upside down you go!

Daddy! Daddy! Higher! Throw me up again!

My son, fly high! The highest you’ve been!

Oh, Daddy! Daddy the world’s begun to spin!
My tummy’s feeling a bit outside in,
I’m not sure I can hold it in!

Hold on buddy, it’ll be okay.
You’ve just had too much of all this play,
No more upside down trips today.

Um, Daddy, am I down?
My belly’s still flipping around,
My feet can’t find the ground.

Are you okay, my son?
Perhaps we had too much fun.
It’s time to settle down and be done.

Oops! Oh! That feels better at last,
I guess I just needed to pass,
A little after lunch gas.

Be well,

Monty

T is for… Thief (#AtoZ)

Here is my latest post for the #AtoZChallenge for April 2022. 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. I hope you enjoy this series.

Little Boy Thief

originally published in Thirteen Words Volume II

Be well,

Monty