Christmas hits rewritten as sonnets

In Competition No. 3179 you were invited to submit a Christmas hit single rewritten as a sonnet.

This seasonal challenge was embraced with gusto, and highlights, in a magnificent entry, ranged from Ian Barker’s version of Jona Lewie’s catchy and affecting ‘Stop the Cavalry’ to Basil Ransome-Davies’s reworking of the peerless Eartha Kitt’s innuendo-laden ‘Santa Baby’. Commendations also go to Matthew Wright, Ross McAlpine, Mary McLean, Sarah Hill, David Silverman and Richard Spencer, but the festive winnings of £20 apiece are awarded to the authors of the sonnets printed below.

The trials of the year have done nothing to diminish your wit and skill; thank you for all your submissions, which it has been a pleasure to judge. A happy Christmas to you all.

It’s Crimbo! Unafraid, we’ll ban the shadows, And spend our higher incomes bringing grins. Let’s hug our third world pals, and not be saddoes. While you are noshing turkey, downing gins, Consider those whose world is very scary, Whose sobs provide the only water source — In countries where the bells mean this: Be Wary Where Death is ever-present.