Lucy Vickery

Competition: Larkin’s take on Hull as City of Culture

Spectator literary competition No. 2829

Peter Porter called Hull ‘the most poetic city in England’ but would Philip Larkin have agreed? What would he have made of his adopted home city being named 2017’s City of Culture? Answers, please, in verse of up to 16 lines, to be emailed to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 1 January.

The recent invitation to confound logic and expectation, and submit nonsense verse on a wintry theme was taken up with gusto, producing a large and lively entry. Honourable mentions to Alanna Blake, Sylvia Fairley, Martin Elster and G.M. Davis, who were unlucky losers. The winners below pocket £25 each. The bonus fiver belongs to Brian Allgar.

’Twas winter, and the gringeing goves
Did quave and quemble on the ice,
The cameroon howled like a loon
And nibbled frozen lice.


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