[Gail White]

Bravo, John & Basil!

[Bill Thomas]

This was my very first venture - and, though I knew it was rubbish, I did think that the Polly Peck reference would strike a chord with the Oldie and its readers! Some must have lost out when Nadir scarpered.

Once there was a trader
Who came across the seas.
His name was Asil Nadir,
Among his plans were these.
Polly Peck was haggard,
A lot of cash he hurled;
The Stock Market was staggered,
And all the business world.
Suddenly t’was tarnished
And Asil slipped away.
The value he had garnished
Or so remarked all they,
Whose money he had eaten,
And mocked without regard.
Now, the pill to sweeten,
Asil advises nard!

[Brian Allgar]

Congratulations to all.

I understand your disappointment, Bill. The problem is that there are usually enough deserving winners on this site alone to fill the competition page three times over ... Chiz!

[Susan McLean]

Congratulations to the winners and the honorably mentioned!

Susan

[Bill Thomas]

Thank you, Brian - I feel better already!

[Jayne Osborn]

Welcome to Eratosphere, Bill. We're almost neighbours when you're not in France.

Your poem struck a chord with me -- I'm sure I used to wear Polly Peck stockings to school (no, maybe not to school, but certainly at other times; my school stockings were revolting thick, beige, ribbed ones which my mother made me darn when they got holes in them!)

I'm surprised your use of "Nadir" didn't earn you an HM, at least.

Jayne

[Graham King]

Congratulations!

Reynard and Cunard were in entries of mine. I infer that on this occasion, at least, the Oldie has opted to be a stickler for adherence to the letter of the comp, although in a previous bouts-rimés they were astonishingly lenient.
(I try to hedge my bets by submitting plain fare along with risky.)