[Ann Drysdale]

Yes, that's a beauty. Newcomers to his work could do worse than begin with "Dooley is a Traitor".

I found one of his in a magazine which is, I swear, somewhere in this cottage, wherein he defines the Almighty as "the gizmo that steers". Give me a few hours' rest from a desperate, paper-whirling search for a piece of Ausonius for my step-daughter and I'll see if I can find it, though it may be safe among his later poems, which are on order from Abe.

[Brian Allgar]

Originally Posted by John Whitworth

Jaspistos was a poet. It is unusual for such as he to be judging these competitions. Indeed it is unique I think.

John, the competition editor and judge at the New Statesman, some decades ago, was James Fenton.

[John Samson]

The broadcasts of Priestley JB in the war
Are treasured because they’re iconic
But did he,I wonder,say this heretofore
“I’d be nowt wi’out valves thermionic”

The silicon chip is a soulless device
It’s so lacking in glass curved and clear
But valves would warm up with a scent rather nice
And a hum (onomatopoeia)

Boy boffins like me they would truly astound
For aglow they’re too fragile to touch
And yet so robust that upon loss of sound
A good thump on the set restored Hutch

Those people at Orange do give me the pip
Ignoring terrific inventions
“With valves in our phones” clever admen could quip
“We give mobiles unheard of dimensions”

[Marcus Sevat]

Indeed I originally wrote it for a Literary Review competition with another verse. It failed to find favour, but whether because of the pubic wig I do not know.

It would certainly have pleased the much lamented Bron. It was a sad day for us when he departed from the Grand Poetry Competition.

Did the Emperor Tiberius, who was sexually active when quite unbelievably old, wear a pubic wig? You would know, Marcus

I would? I don't think Suetonius mentions this in his Twelve Caesars but he does say that Tiberius played with"minnows" in his swimming pool, though presumably he was without a pubic wig then.

[Jayne Osborn]

Welcome, John.

It's not very often that "onomatopoeia" appears --or should that be 'opoeias'? -- in a poem.

(I remember Hilversum on the dial.)

Jayne

[John Whitworth]

Tony Harrison I think

Like Granny's radio stuck on Hilversum

The rhyme is 'bum'. It would be.

I didn't know that, Brian. I am waiting for the call, Lucy. I won't tell any of them and I'll call myself Flagrante Delicto.

Marcus. Thank you. What a lot we know here. PS. I know it's In Flagrante Delicto but you can't call yourself that.