[Jerome Betts]

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?

[John Whitworth]

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

[Chris O'Carroll]

Poetry Parnassus Blues

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

[Jerome Betts]

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!

[Chris O'Carroll]

Parnassian Flyweights

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

[basil ransome-davies]

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?

[Jerome Betts]

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.

[Brian Allgar]

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)

[FOsen]

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

[Ann Drysdale]

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...