Poetry competition: An ode to Brexit

‘Poetry makes nothing happen,’ a famous poet once said. But Mr S is still disappointed to hear that the nation’s official poet won’t be penning some lines to mark Britain’s departure from the EU. Poet Laureate Simon Armitage said he has ‘no plans’ to commemorate Brexit day on 31 October. Whatever does he do for his annual stipend of £5,750 and the traditional 600-odd bottles of sherry he gets as payment?

Then again, maybe Leavers should breathe a sigh of relief that Armitage has chosen to deny us a Brexit-themed ballad. Before his appointment as Poet Laureate in May this year, Armitage put together a so-called ‘film poem’ for Sky Arts in celebration of the March deadline, which included such incisive lines as ‘Kent – exposing its fat little cock to the east.’ Not quite the sunlit uplands…

Think you can do better than Armitage’s effort? Leave your Brexit poetry suggestions in the comments below and we will publish the best on Coffee House.