Monosyllabics by Laura E. Richards

This story isn't really a story. It's a poem. What makes it's both unique and fun is that every word has just one syllable.Why don't you read along:The black cat satIn the fat man’s hat;“Oh, dear!” the fat man said.“May the great gray batCatch the bad black catWho has left me no hatFor my head!”The big brown bearTried to curl his hairTo go to the Fair so gay.But he looked such a frightThat his aunt took flight,And he cried till night, they say.A pale pink pig,In a large blond wig,Danced a wild, wild jigOn the lea;But a rude old goat,In a sky-blue coat,Said, “You’re nought but a shoat, tee hee!”A poor old KingSold his gay gold ringFor to buy his old wife some cream;But the cat lapped it upWith a sip and a sup,And his tears ran down in a stream.A large red cowTried to make a bow,But did not know how,They say.For her legs got mixed,And her horns got fixed,And her tail would getIn her way.A boy named SamHad a fat pet ram,And gave him some jamFor his tea;But the fat pet ramTried to butt poor Sam,Till he had to turnAnd flee.A girl named JaneHad a sad, bad painIn the place where she woreHer belt;She mopped and she mowed,And she screamed aloud,Just to show the crowdHow she felt.A sad, thin apeBought some wide white tapeTo trim a new capeFor his niece;But a bold buff calf,With a loud, rude laugh,Bit off one whole halfFor his geese.A pert, proud henLaid an egg, and thenSaid “Cluck!” and “cluck!” and“cluck!”Said the cock, “Had I knownYou would take that tone,I would have wooed noneBut a duck!”

Om Podcasten

Humans have shared stories for millennia. For most of that time, telling tales was a verbal process. A storyteller would regale an audience with accounts of adventure, bravery, compassion, despair, enlightenment, and fear. Stories were a shared experience, until the advent of inexpensive mass-printing processes in the 19th century which allowed most of us to read to ourselves. Yet, that desire to have a story read aloud is still ingrained in our collective soul. While we still read books for pleasure, most of today’s stories are told via newer forms of visual media like movies and television. Consuming stories via any visual medium requires an active commitment to the process. You probably shouldn’t read a book or watch a TV program while driving, but your brain still craves a good story. An audio book is suitable for a long road trip. But what about those times when you only have a few minutes? Enter the audio short story. Allow me to help you fill those moments and fulfill your need for a captivating tale with readings of some of the world’s greatest literary masters best brief works. My love of the spoken word has been honed by a more than 30-year career in radio and voice acting with a modicum of performance passion from decades of stage performances. This venture is my hobby (I have a great full-time job), so much of the content is free of cost. I hope you enjoy them. If you would like to share thoughts or comments, please drop me a line. If you enjoy these stories, please spread the word, subscribe, and leave a review on your favorite podcast service. Thanks for stopping by, Don McDonald