Wordsworth

This week’s nautically themed challenge invited short poems including the line “A boat, beneath a sunny sky”, by Lewis Carroll, and a crop of silliness befitting the author was received.

Bay of Plenty’s David Wort writes: A boat, beneath a sunny sky,/Jigged a fish upon a fly./”Throw me back,” implored the fish,/”And I will grant your dearest wish.”/”I know this one,” the fisho said/And whacked the fish upon the head.

Noel Roberts, Nelson: A boat, beneath a sunny sky,/my lover’s hand caressed my thigh;/as passion rose, we rolled about,/ then suddenly, entwined, fell out!

Nancy Patulski, Taradale: They ran together, hand in hand/Across the field and down the sand/Towards a boat, beneath a sunny sky,/Away from eyes that peer and pry/A place without a chaperone/But she forgot her brother’s/Blasted drone.

Rex McGregor, Auckland: A boat, beneath a sunny sky,/Brings joy you cannot quantify./A boat, beneath a sunny sea,/Is more of an emergency.

Poppy Sinclair, Karori: A boat, beneath a sunny sky,/Contains two fishermen at work,/While one is searching for the bung,/ The other bails for all he’s worth.

Ray Willett, Te Anau: A boat, beneath a sunny sky/The lake appears sublime./

But sadly, though, beneath the boat,/toxic algae bloom, and slime.

But the prize goes to Mary Hazlewood of Lower Hutt: Clad in cardboard painted black/Sails stapled on, tiller in back/Huge blue hat with yellow rays/Entered the party, caught my friend’s gaze./”What’re you dressed as?” I heard her cry./”A boat, beneath a sunny sky.”

The next contest is based on an idea by Helen Yuretich: send us a haiku in 5-75 syllable format describing a scene after you have won a huge lottery. Entries, for the prize below, close at noon on Thursday, February 28.

Submissions: wordsworth@listener.co.nz or Wordsworth, NZ Listener, Private Bag 92512, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141. Please include your address. Entries may be edited for sense or space reasons.