#AtoZChallenge – Page 4 – Monty’s Blahg

L is for Limerick

A limerick is a poem of five lines in a single stanza with rhyme scheme AABBA and usually intended to be humorous and suggestive.
literarydevices.net

This is a repost from one of my poems created the poetic scavenger hunt hosted by @murisopsis from A Different Perspective. This poem is in the form of The Donna, which is a syllabic limerick (8/6/4/4/6) with rhyming scheme xabba, xcddc, etc.

A Girl Named Donna

Once there was a girl named Donna
She lived across the street
I had a crush
My heart was mush
Hoping to some day meet.

Then I saw her in the window
Dancing to her own beat
Naked and free
For me to see
Everything but her feet.

The sight made me very dizzy
My belly felt so odd
What a feeling
All from seeing
Donna’s hot dancing bod.

The next day her house stood empty
She’d moved away that night
Oh, how I cried
Couldn’t stop, I tried
I prayed for one more sight.

Then arrived a big moving van
Out popped a cute red head
My heart beat rushed
I felt quite flushed
And all I saw was Red.

Be well,

It’s Complicated (2025 NaPoWriMo #5)
I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! It’s complicated – click link and see prompt for April 5th. I followed the prompt loosely. napowrimo.net It’s Complicated BreakingContinue reading “It’s Complicated (2025 NaPoWriMo #5)”
Drawn (2025 NaPoWriMo #4)
I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Write a poem about living with a piece of art. napowrimo.net Drawn He drew me with everlasting lovingkindness,The only loveContinue reading “Drawn (2025 NaPoWriMo #4)”
Licensed to Poet (2025 NaPoWriMo #3)
I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Write a poem that obliquely explains why you are a poet and not some other kind of artist napowrimo.net LicensedContinue reading “Licensed to Poet (2025 NaPoWriMo #3)”
Dear Me (2025 NaPoWriMo #2)
I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Write a poem that directly addresses someone, and that includes a made-up word, an odd/unusual simile, a statement of “fact,”Continue reading “Dear Me (2025 NaPoWriMo #2)”
Moto (2025 NaPoWriMo #1)
I’m celebrating National Poetry Month! Today, we challenge you to take inspiration from this glossary of musical terms, or this glossary of art terminology, and write aContinue reading “Moto (2025 NaPoWriMo #1)”

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 Zebras and other seriously silly poetry — a carefully edited and polished compilation of my A to Z posts from last year. Enjoy!

L is for ‘Love Bug’

Stay tuned for more silly poetry from A to Z!

Pick up a copy of this silly collection dedicated to the child in all of us and enjoy with a loved one. Or stick around as I’ll continue posting each illustrated poem one letter at a time throughout the month of April. Have fun and stay silly!

Be well,

Monty

My 2nd A to Z Challenge Reflection (#AtoZ)
This was my second year doing the A to Z challenge and I’m two for two in terms of completion rate. This year’s theme wasContinue reading “My 2nd A to Z Challenge Reflection (#AtoZ)”
My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: Now We’ve Gone From A to Z…
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: Now We’ve Gone From A to Z…”
Z is for Zoomorphism
Zoomorphism 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 hYpophora
A 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 eXpletive
Expletive 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 Wit
Wit 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 Vignette
A 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 Understatement
An 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 Trochaic
Trochaic 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 Synesthesia
Synesthesia 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 Rhyme
Rhyme 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 Quatrain
A 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 Pseudonym
A 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 Oxymoron
Oxymoron 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 Nostalgia
Nostalgia 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 Metaphor
A 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 Limerick
A 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 Kenning
A 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 Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition 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 Pentameter
Iambic 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 Horror
Horror 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”
My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: H is for ‘Haha’
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: H is for ‘Haha’”
G is for Gustatory Imagery
Gustatory 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”
My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: G is for ‘George, Curious George’
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: G is for ‘George, Curious George’”
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)”
My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: F is for ‘Fruit Loops’
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: F is for ‘Fruit Loops’”
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)”

K is for Kenning

A 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

This is another new term for me, let’s play with it.

A Very Late Morning

He came to slowly. His eyes cemented shut. The light of a bright mid-day sun glowing fleshy-orange against his lids. He tried to piece together how he got here through a head full of brain-gruel. His last murky memory a last call. He’d ordered a very unnecessary mizu-wari. The smell of which now seeped from his pores mixing with half digested shabu-shabu bits. As he cracked open his eyes his skull split into sharp, jagged shards – a kaleidoscope of pain and color.

In this case I came up with the kenning I wanted to use – “brain-gruel” and then worked from there. Unfortunately this little piece is an autobiographical description from one of my day’s living and working in Japan. The night prior was a long one, but the day after felt like eternity. I eventually did show up at work that day, but I was thoroughly useless. Ah, the young and stupid. I’m glad it was over a quarter century ago.

Be well,

My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: K is for ‘Kaleidoscope’

K is for ‘Kaleidoscope’

Stay tuned for more silly poetry from A to Z!

Be well,

Monty

J is for Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition 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 sure I’ve done accidentally in my writing before, but I don’t believe I’ve ever been intentional about it. I’ve no idea how I’m going to go about this yet. Let’s see where this takes us.

Land of the Free

She soars in circles, catching airflows to keep her aloft. The slightest feather adjustments all that she needs to change her trajectory. Her flight majestic and free. The chosen symbol of the below country.

He drives in circles, spewing exhaust as he flies by the concrete city. The slightest adjustments to the wheel all he needs to weave in and out of traffic. His ride, a mechanical marvel, carries him across the land of the free.

This is a bit ‘on the nose’ so no points for subtlety, but I’ll take it.

Be well,

My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: J is for ‘Jam’

J is for ‘Jam’

Stay tuned for more silly poetry from A to Z!

Be well,

Monty

I is for Iambic Pentameter

Iambic Pentameter is a poem beat that uses 10 syllables in each line in which an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable.
literarydevices.net

This is a repost from about a year ago when I played with the iambic pentameter form just for fun. It’s not a perfect example as I didn’t get the stresses correct throughout, but I call it a good effort.

Monty Goes Iambic Pentameter

The clock says it is just past noon this day;
In a rain cloud darkened room I sit;
Tapping out ten syllabled poetry,
In a classically metered rhythm.
Summoning a Shakespearean-like muse;
Counting words bit by bit under my breath;
To get this iambic pentameter prose.
Is it working? Or is this just a ruse?
A form living long past its rightful death?
Just re-teaching me how to count my toes?
All I know is I’m enjoying myself
And, that’s what really counts I suppose.

Be well,

My First A to Z Challenge Anniversary: I is for ‘Icky’

I is for ‘Icky’

Stay tuned for more silly poetry from A to Z!

Be well,

Monty

H is for Horror

Horror 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’m a fan of horror, my first reaction would be to say no. Horror scares me. It horrifies me, if you will. But it is exciting in a way and while I’ll pass on this genre in film, I’m willing to explore it more in reading and writing. The first horror novel that I read was Stephen King’s Pet Cemetery and it totally freaked me out. It didn’t help that I lived on a dead-end dirt road called Cemetery Road at the time. But it was a thrilling read to and it wasn’t long before I read another King novel re-seeking that excitement. That was back in about sixth grade, I’d guess.

The below series, I’ve posted before. I created it for the first #vssmurder prompts back during the Halloween season of 2020. I had a little too much fun with it.