In Competition No. 3104 you were invited to encapsulate the life story of a well-known person, living or dead, in three limericks.
The limerick form was neatly summed up by the late Paul Griffin, long-time competitor and a regular winner on these pages:
A limerick’s short and it’s slick;
Like a racehorse it has to be quick:
The front may seem calm
And cause no alarm
But the end is the bit that can kick.
The saints and sinners whose lives you squished into 15 lines ranged from Donald Trump, Jim Davidson and Mad King Ludwig to Jesus and Helen Keller. Honourable mentions go to C. Paul Evans, Martin Elster, David Silverman and W.J. Webster; the winners, below, are rewarded with £25 apiece.
The much-vilified Marquis de Sade
Was a sport, an eccentric, a card.
From his earliest days
His were profligate ways
And his future intentions ill-starred.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in