Jerome Betts: Taming The Azteca
(England 3 – Mexico 2)
Though England’s prospects weren’t too bright –
No time to train to play at height –
A stadium whose air was thin
Did not prevent an epic win.
The answer to home fans who booed?
Two goals by unobscure young Jude!
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Alan Millichap: Shopping
I'm never quite sure what to do,
To use the self-service or queue;
Other's trolleys could hide,
Many questions inside,
Which may slow me down getting through.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Brian O’ Sullivan: Meta-Limerick
('Some think him unpleasant and queer.'
–Edward Lear, on himself)
When we think of Ed (Limerick) Lear,
a peculiar thing becomes clear:
five quick lines, just sometimes,
with a couple of rhymes,
might just let the "unpleasant" endear.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Harry Ricketts: Four Quartets
There’s clearly a lot about Time;
and some of the parts even rhyme.
The chat with the ghost
is what readers like most,
but it’s not TSE in his prime.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Philip Kitcher: Snatching Defeat . . . ?
(England 1 – Argentina 2)
Our legs were tired, our energy was low,
with half an hour, plus stoppage time, to go.
The gaffer said: “I know just what we need,
a risk-free way that will increase our lead;
the height of tactical intelligence –
our best attack will be . . . a good defence!”
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Colin McNairn: Kermit the Frog Weathers Wet Weather
With the Help of a Spoonerism
It’s raining, raining cats and dogs,
But that doesn’t faze carnivorous frogs,
Since flies can be had despite drenching skies
And, for frogs, “time’s fun when you’re having flies,”
So that’s why Kermit’s outside happily croaking
Even as he’s getting one serious soaking.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Pat D’Amico: Maintaining The Material
Most of the things for which we’ve toiled
Then must be laundered, dusted, oiled,
Insured, inspected, stored or waxed
And, sadly, in addition, taxed.
There comes a time to say “Enough!
What is the use of all this stuff?”
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Steven Kent: All Dressed Up
I long to purge my wardrobe, heaven knows.
At my age, though, I keep some funeral clothes
For sombre ceremonies I attend
To pay respects to each departed friend,
And set one special suit aside, you see,
I'll wear when others do the same for me.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Philip Kitcher: World Cup Envoi
High expectations doomed to end in tears,
Our disappointment mingled with self-blame.
After that siege-like ending must we grope
for solace . . . wait another sixty years
until the passion of a madcap game
revives a sense of promise . . . dare we hope?
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Harry Ricketts: The Vanity of Human Wishes
History shows us again and again
that all human wishes are vain.
Peasant, writer, or king,
it’s the very same thing –
we all end up flushed down the drain.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Tony Peyser: Elvis conveniently rhymes with pelvis.
He wiggled his, which made every girl look up
And soon the whole world was “All Shook Up.”
The fame that came was so fierce and so fast
That his grip on reality wasn’t destined to last.
His place in our hearts can't be replaced and
I hope he found peace and grace at Graceland.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Martin Parker: The Joy of Reading Braille
Serendipity
and falling cake crumbs might turn
haikus to sonnets.
Today they have only made
one boring tanka.
