Competition | 4 July 2009

In Competition No. 2602 you were invited to submit a poem in praise of urban living.

The countryside’s praises have been well sung by poets; cities’ less so, although Wordsworth had his head turned by the early-morning view from Westminster Bridge. There are seven winners this week so I’ll pause only to offer warm commendations to Martin Elster, G. McIlraith and David Mackie. The magnificent seven, printed below, get £20 each. Shirley Curran nabs £25.

Say not commuting naught availeth,
That bendy buses are in vain,
The traffic jam yields not, nor faileth,
And misery packs the morning train.
For first impressions may be liars;
It may be, in yon fog concealed,
Are gleaming now the city spires
And, will, by noon, possess the field.
For while in tower blocks, vainly grubbing,
You seem, no painful inch to gain,
Below, your mates make plans for clubbing,
Fine wine and five star meals, again.
And not through double-glazing only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light,
In front, the sun climbs slow, how slowly,
And downward look, the Thames is bright.