[Pedro Poitevin]

SLOTH

I want to win,
so why not praise
the deadly sin
that always sways?

Because I'm lazy
and greed is boring.
These poets are crazy––
they should be snoring.

[Pedro Poitevin]

Thanks, Brian. It's hard to compete with Roger's multitasking. I hadn't notice this was for some competition. I should hang out more in Drills and Amusements!

Pedro.

[Brian Allgar]

My pleasure, Pedro. I'm here for the Amusements - I don't know where the Drills come in. (Perhaps in everyday life John is a dentist?)

As for the competitions, they appear in a couple of English weekly publications, "The New Statesman"' and "The Spectator", and offer "riches beyond the dreams of avarice " - at least, that's how twenty(-five) quid might have seemed in Dr. Johnson's time.

[Roger Slater]

Your four-liner has winner written all over it, Brian, leaving me again with only envy to praise.

[John Whitworth]

well that's a point. what about this then?


Avarice

Look, I’ve got a bunch of money.
I can let you have some cheap.
Soft as silk and sweet as honey,
Cash enough to make you weep,

Yours to keep and yours to savour,
Yours to take and yours to spend.
Suck on money, feel the flavour,
Money makes a faithful friend.

Ask your money what’s the weather,
Ask your money what’s o’clock.
Money keeps it all together,
Money is a trusty rock.

When you have a sack of money,
You have something rich and rare
Money is your bestest bunny,
Nothing else can quite compare.

[Jayne Osborn]

I hadn't notice this was for some competition.

Hi Pedro,
Welcome to D & A; it's a great place to hang out! This isn't just 'some' competition - the kudos from appearing in The Spectator is enormous! The same with New Statesman, The Oldie and Literary Review.

You'll find all these comps, and their deadlines, in Drills and Amusements. (The first two are weeklies, the other two are monthlies.)
I look forward to seeing your name in one of them

Jayne

[Marion Shore]

Originally Posted by Brian Allgar

SLOTH

I never shave, I’m really far too lazy,
Although my wife complains about the stubble.
And competitions - do you think I’m crazy?
Write sixteen lines? No way, it’s too much trouble.

Ironic, that the first one to go up is about sloth! :-)

[Marion Shore]

Actually, Pedro, none of us are here for the Amusement. It's all about the money!

[Marion Shore]

Of all the seven deadly sins
that lurk along the way,
the one that hasn't lured me in
is pride, I'm proud to say.

[FOsen]

Envy, like ivy, survives
when much lovelier things are nearby,
as an ever-green vine
that will strangle and twine
round its neighbours until they all die.
Yet should any do better—it thrives.

Frank