Poetry in motion — and bridges and graves

The most recent challenge, to incorporate a list of poets’ surnames — motion, bridges, wilde, gray, cope, hood, burns and browning — into a poem or piece of prose, presented ample opportunity for showing off. My invitation to cram in extra names of your choosing was taken up with gusto and the award for Class Swot goes to Albert Black, who pulled off the phenomenal feat of shoehorning 52 names into his prose piece. But while Mr Black gained points for quantity, it was the poets who performed best, and this is reflected in the winning line-up.

A nod to Frank McDonald, whose entry to a previous competition gave me the idea for this one. Commiserations to unlucky losers Alanna Blake, Graham King and John O’Byrne. And a congratulatory slap on the back to Basil Ransome-Davies, who takes the bonus fiver, and to his fellow winners who pocket £25 each.

Basil Ransome-Davies

The bridge that burns can be the best of bridges.