Parnassian Mystery
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18493264

I wonder what Thomas Hood would have made of this event? Any Sphereans involved?

I foresee either the missing Monegasque or the North Korean court poet's works turning up as a comp, so this is to give you all a chance get your practice in early . . .

There must be some bards born Alaskan
But not, it would seem Monegasquean.
Do we sense something fishy and smelly
In the land of the late G.P. Kelly?

What about a poet from the Kingdom of Fife, that's what I want to know. Did Macbeth write a ditty or two?

Poetry Parnassus Blues

It proved a thankless task
Tracking down at least
One bard Monegasque
Who was not deceased.

Lichenstein made it, though, Chris.

John, was not the following found on Macbeth's mangled corpse?

I twice met three weirdoes or witches -
My God, weren't they just lying bitches!
Birnam Wood, it is plain,
Has reached Dunsinane
And Duff's dam sported post-partum stitches!

Parnassian Flyweights

O Liechtenstein,
Sie sind so klein --
Far bigger, though,
Than Monaco.

The world of verse would be far poorer
Without the poets of Andorra.
Who does not know the global fame
Of Thingy There and Whatshisname?

Is it going to be a sort of Eurovision with a bigger catchment area?

A bard from the land of 'Begorra!'
Remarked, 'The next bore's from Andorra.
Thank the Lord San Marino's
Had absorbed several vinos
But with Scotland's . . .The horror! The horror!'

Over to Basil, Chris or anyone for the euphonious Jang Jin-Sung or a bookmark-shaped poem.

An aging poet from Albania
Might seem to be a useless bodger,
For in the years of Marxist mania,
The only rhyme allowed was “Hoxha”. *

This poet’s published works include
“Our Leader’s like the Artful Dodger”
(A lengthy prison term ensued);
A Hitchcock spin-off called “The Lodger”;
A sonnet that is rather rude -
"Old codger Roger beats his todger”.

(* Enver Hoxha, pronounced "Hodja", Stalinist leader of Albania until 1985)

Ach, Jerome beat me to this rhyme while I wasn't looking. . . .

On the Scarcity of Monagasque Poets

In England or even Andorra
The laureate needn’t ask for a
Butt or a cask,
But the poor Monagasque
Receives not a flask – oh, the horror.

Frank

Oh, he reads along the Bwah Boolong
From an arbitrary list
You can hear the girls insist
He's a true post-modernist
You can see them give each other looks
And pretend to read the beastly books
Of the man who waves the flag for Monte Caaarlo


I think you may have to be a Brit to know the tune...