In Competition No. 2959 you were invited to submit a poem on a political theme entitled ‘May day’.
There was a good turnout, but the mood was overwhelmingly bleak despite the efforts of a relentlessly optimistic few, Tim Raikes and Alanna Blake among them. But there was much to admire, including a neat riff from Frank McDonald on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 (‘Shall Maggie be compared to Theresa May / Who is more cautious and more temperate?’, a ‘Jabberwocky’-inspired submission from Andrew Bamji and Alex Lynford’s clever Blakean turn. Nicholas Hodgson, Martin John, George Simmers, G.M. Davis, John Whitworth and Michael Copeman were on top form too.
The winners are printed below and earn their authors £30 apiece. The extra fiver is Alan Millard’s.
It might be wise to celebrate Theresa May’s success,
Thought Boris, pouring mayonnaise upon his watercress;
The wily, erstwhile London Mayor was keen to make amends
For mayhem caused by mishaps past that duly riled his friends.
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