In Competition No. 3150 you were invited to submit a sonnet describing one of the labours of Hercules.
This challenge seemed to strike a chord, attracting an entry of modest size but rich in wit and invention. There were some clever topical touches as well as echoes of master sonneteers from times past: Milton, Donne and Shelley.
Honourable mentions go to Chris O’Carroll, Katie Mallett, Simon May, Hamish Wilson and Rob Stuart. The prizewinners, printed below, are rewarded with £20 each.
Lerna in lockdown faced a sombre fate;the many-headed Hydra grew two headsfor every one lopped off — the beast’s R-ratekept fearful locals cowering in their beds.How do you kill a multi-headed brute?Co-operation’s key, so Herculesbrought Iolaus (young and resolute)to bring the grisly creature to its knees.Hercules chopped the heads, his nephew snatcheda firebrand and cauterised each stump.With no heads left the serpent was dispatched;the beast of terror just a rotting lump.
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