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Shaun Jex

@shaunjexauthor.bsky.social

300 followers 450 following 860 posts

Writer. Book Goblin. Given to Meandering. he/him

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Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 9d

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

A Mythical Menagerie: Poems about Imaginary Beasts

Discover poems about mythical creatures from around the world,

shaunmjex.wordpress.com

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 2h

Here's a poem for your Tuesday morning about a curious critter that roams the woods of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

#poetry #kidlit #poetrycommunity

The Axehandle Hound

Deep in the forest
Watch how I bound!
Head like a blade–
The axe handle hound!

Roaming the campsites
See what I’ve found?
Such a nice axe
Left out on the ground

What a fine morsel!
What a fine treat!
What a fine haft
That I get to eat!

Deep in the forest
Watch how I bound!
Head like a blade–
The axe handle hound!
© Shaun Jex

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 3h

I recently stumbled upon a PDF of this delightful little pamphlet, "Paul Bunyan Natural History: Describing the Wild Animals, Birds, Reptiles and Fish of the Big Woods about Paul Bunyan's Old Time Logging Camps." It's only a few pages, but loaded with fascinating critters like the Hodag.
#folklore

Paul Bunyan Natural History: Describing the Wild Animals, Birds, Reptiles and Fish of the Big Woods about Paul Bunyan's Old Time Logging Camps

Reposted by Shaun Jex

Kenn Nesbitt - Poetry4kids @kennnesbitt.bsky.social · 1d

Shaun Jex: "Once Upon a Time: Fairytales, Folklore, and Poetry" kennn.com/ABUps1 #ChildrensPoetry #Poetry4kids
@captainquisp.bsky.social‬

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Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 1d

I know I read it years ago (over 20 at my best guess), but "The Juniper Tree" from Grimm's Fairy Tales certainly maintains its ability to shock. Most of the Grimm's stories are...well...grim...but this one takes it to a whole different level.

Marlinchen mourning the loss over her stepbrother whilst a bird emerges from the juniper tree.; Illustration by Louis R. Head

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 1d

Been driving for two days straight and had to make one last stop for gas. Felt fitting to stop here.

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 2d

This week on the poetry blog, we're looking at poems inspired by fairy tales and folklore:
shaunmjex.wordpress.com/2025/10/12/o...

#poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit

Once Upon a Time: Fairytales, Folklore, and Poetry

Explore poetry inspired by fairy tales and folklore

shaunmjex.wordpress.com

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 2d

Many thanks to @adamgidwitz.bsky.social for helping us fill the time with story.

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 2d

Italo Calvino's classic Italian Folktales and the Grim, Grimmer, Grimmest podcast are helping pass the hours of our drive.

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 9d

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

A Mythical Menagerie: Poems about Imaginary Beasts

Discover poems about mythical creatures from around the world,

shaunmjex.wordpress.com

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 11d

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.

Reposted by Shaun Jex

Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 12d

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

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

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Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 12d

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.

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 12d

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

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...

www.nbcnews.com

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 13d

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

Akephaloi

They are curious creatures
These nomadic, headless men
With faces set in their chests –
Mouths stretched across the belly
Eyes blinking below the neck –
As though the gods jumbled
Their parts like puzzle pieces
Before setting them to bake
In the great kiln of creation

Poem © Shaun Jex

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 13d

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

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 13d

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.

Image of the catoblepas from the Der Naturen Bloeme manuscript.

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 13d

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.

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 15d

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

Reposted by Shaun Jex

Kay Medway @kaymedway.bsky.social · 15d

#poem #poetry #repetition #poetrycommunity

I hear my cousin tell me
her children’s teacher’s school report of their work.

I hear of a drawing of buildings one did.
"That's great use of point perspective," we say.

I hear her son at the table
ask to remove the little eye patch he sometimes wears,
with an affecting,
"I want two eyes, Mummy, now."

I used to hear praise
for how well behaved my cousin was as a child
when we were children.

I hear how my cousin overcame the trauma
after her accident when she was three.

How much she loved and loves her family
our family, now her little family too.

How she found out at bingo
how Uncle Ben watched the news
with subtitles on repeat,
hearing stories from around the world.

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Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 15d

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

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Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 15d

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...

Say It Again: Repetition in Poetry

A blog post exploring how to use repetition when writing poetry, including several examples.

shaunmjex.wordpress.com

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 18d

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

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Reposted by Shaun Jex

Sue Hardy-Dawson @suehardy-dawson.bsky.social · 18d

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

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Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 18d

Thanks so much!

Shaun Jex @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social · 18d

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'."