Two verses supplying new words for a British national anthem, to be sung to the original tune. Great One who Dawkins doubts, Where e’er...

A review by a critic identifying the literary precursor to a popular music star Those immortal lines from ‘The Wasteland’, to wit: ‘Twit...

A poem eulogising a pet My Maud, she makes the perfect pet, A choice I never could regret Despite misgivings from the vet Who deemed it a...

A short story ending, ‘Sir, when I heard of him last, he was running about town shooting cats’ ‘Yes , sir, it’s a sad story. It must have...

An account of awakening one morning having been transformed into an insect So here I am, transformed into something though not quite sure...

A publisher’s press release on a book entitled ‘Bombproof Your Horse’ Widely tipped to be a literary bombshell bursting on the market...

A retrospective comment in verse from the other world on the assassination of Julius Caesar by one of the conspirators I nearly pulled it...

A song beginning: ‘Oh, what have you done to your…?’ filling the blank with a relative Oh, what have you done to your Maiden Aunt Sue?...

A poem which begins: ‘Once I was only a wannabee’ One I was only a wannabee But now I’m a big celebrity, I’ve turned the glamour on! I...

A poem in which the initial letters of each line, read down the page, reproduce the first line I am now growing old And long in the tooth...

A passage which incorporates the following words: Benidorm, biscuit, belatedly, buff, beckoned, bosom, banjaxed, barrister, blue,...

A poem ending with the phrase: ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time’. It’s too late to rue my lamentable lot. I should have said no to...

An imagined continuation of the (slightly altered) couplet by Dryden ‘A man, so various, he seemed to be Not one prime minister but...

A story entitled ‘The man who did not’ The room was ready. Could this be the man for the job? He was shown to a chair and invited to sit....

A poem entitled ‘The Picnic’ Yes, I remember Adders Drop – The place, because one bitter day Wrapped up in overcoats we picnicked there...

A poem lamenting the degeneration of the traditional English pub Long gone, alas, the days of yore When, at the hamlet’s hub, With...

Two strangers meet through the Spectator column, ‘The Love Bug’ and simultaneously write to each other indicating that future meetings...

A poem in which the first letters of each line spell out MIDSUMMER NIGHT Midsummer night! Midsummer Worthy! Murder. Inspector Barnaby is...

As the bishop said to the rook, ‘There are only two moves in my book, A diagonal flight to the left or the right With the aid of my...

A poem in the rhythm of ‘Hiawatha’ entitled ‘Breakfast’ When, as now, the poet’s object Is to write in verse trochaic, Choosing...