Shaun Jex

A Mythical Menagerie: Poems about Imaginary Beasts Discover poems about mythical creatures from around the world,

This week's poetry blog is a tour of mythical creatures!
shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/a...

Momotaro being born from a peach

I've read this folktale before, but read it again this evening. It's the tale of Momotaro, the boy born from a peach to a childless, elderly couple.

When he grew older, he set out to fight the Oni (or ogres) troubling the land, fighting them on Demon Island with the help of his animal friends.

A Brief History of Modern Art in Poetry 1. Impressionism Roses sway in softened reds, Violets swim in murky blues, Sugar sparkles in the light, Blurring into golden you. 2. Surrealism Roses are melting, Violets are too. Ceci n’est pas le sucre. Keith is a giant crab 3. Social Realism Roses are dead, Violence is rife. Don’t sugar coat This bitter life. 4. Abstract Expressionism Are and. Violets roses so. You sweet blue. Are are red is sugar 5. Pop Art Roses go BLAM! Violets go POW! Sugar is COOL! You are so WOW! 6. Conceptual Art Roses are red, Coated in blood: A deer’s severed head Drips from above

Here’s another poem for National Poetry Day. This one is called ‘A Brief History of Modern Art in Poetry’.

Last night, I finished my read through of Dante's Inferno (Robert Pinsky translation). I don't want to jump to conclusions based on one book, but I think this Alighieri fella has a lot of promise as a writer.

Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee researcher and animal advocate, dies at 91 "Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," the Jane Goodall Institute said in a Wedne...

A profound inspiration whose work genuinely made the world a better place. Thank you for everything, Dr. Goodall.
www.nbcnews.com/news/obituar...

I've been studying a lot of ancient mythology and history, which paired up perfectly with the newest #wordoftheweek from @thetoypress.bsky.social

#poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit

This morning's work soundtrack is Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet by The Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by Lorin Maazel.

Image of the catoblepas from the Der Naturen Bloeme manuscript.

Reading up on mythical creatures, and I'm not sure there's a name that's more fun to say than Catoblepas. It's written about historians like Pliny the Elder and Claudius Aelianus. Depending on the source, either its gaze or its breath was considered deadly.

I'm endlessly amused by how petty Dante Alighieri is throughout The Inferno, peopling Hell with his political enemies. Also by the fact that he repeatedly mentions his own talent. It's not that he's wrong. He was obviously brilliant. It's just amusing to see that he clearly thought so too.

This is great, Kay! Thanks so much for sharing.

#poem #poetry #repetition #poetrycommunity

What a fun poem! Helped me start my workweek with a smile :)

Say It Again: Repetition in Poetry A blog post exploring how to use repetition when writing poetry, including several examples.

A day later than usual, but this week's poetry blog post is now live! It's all about the use of repetition in poetry.
#poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit
shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2025/09/29/s...

Thanks! It was a wonderful prompt. Glad to know the poem lived up to the prompt's promise :)

Today's #NationalPoetryDay poem, what could be more playful than a shape poem. This one from my 1st collection Where Zebras Go Otter-Barry Books @domconlon.bsky.social @piecorbett.bsky.social @brianbilston.bsky.social @brianmosespoet.bsky.social

Thanks so much!

On the off chance I ever see you walking a trail in the evening, I'll proudly declare, "Oh, it's lovely roamin' in the gloamin'."

I really loved this post on Brian's blog. Here's his original prompt, "Think of a favourite place, mind map ideas and then write the poem featuring repetition of one or two words to bring rhythm to non-rhyming poems." And the attached image is my poem in response.

#poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit

#poem #poetry #prompt

Congratulations and well deserved :)

Thanks to @thetoypress.bsky.social for another wonderful #wordoftheweek !

Here's my poem.

#kidlit #writingforchildren #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity

New blog post: Five of my favourite children’s poems plus where to fine them/listen to them. Hopefully good for @PoetryDayUK and for schools tackling poetry units of study throughout the year. brian-moses.blogspot.com

I love her! And her adorable passenger

Maybe the big boss just looked around and said, "Nope!"

Illustration of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, and Joe Harper on a log raft, drawn by artist John Dyess

Sorry, I can't today. Me and Huck, Tom, and Joe are running away to be pirates.

Hattifatteners on a hill

Matthew knew he couldn't go out and play with the rest of the Hattifatteners until he finished his homework...

A man in a black hat is seen covering his eyes with his hands

Continuing my dive into classic short films, last night I watched "Film" written by Samuel Beckett, directed by Alan Schneider, and starring the legendary Buster Keaton.

It's a meditation on perception/observation and delivers as a fascinating piece of art that warrants repeated future viewings.

Tim’rous Beastie: Poetry and Fear A look at how poets can write about fear, with several examples and a writing prompt.

This week on the poetry blog, we look at how worry and anxiety can be written about in poetry.
#poetrycommunity #kidlit
shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2025/09/21/t...

A woman in a shawl looks in a mirror. A black kettle sits on a shelf beside the mirror. The title on the picture reads "The House is Black"

Along with her poetry, Forough Farrokhzad directed a documentary called "The House is Black" set in the Bababaghi Hospice leper colony Released in 1963. It is not an easy watch, but it captures the beauty and humanity of the colony's residents while not turning a blind eye to their suffering.

Piglet Winnie The Pooh GIF ALT: Piglet Winnie The Pooh GIF

Attention, #parents!
Lit Kids opens to submissions for Issue 8: Air on 10/1. We accept writing, art, and photography solely from creative kids between the ages of 5 and 13. Subscribe to stay in the loop (and blow us away)! Keep shining! ✨
litkidsmagazine.wixsite.com/lit-kids-mag...

#emag #kidlit