Winner
We received more than 1,000 wonderful flash poems and we're delighted to announce that Pam Ayres has chosen the winner... Lucien Young from London!
These days the truth seems ever foggier:
The world's more Trump-y, and Rees-Moggier.
But when mendacious meanies make you blue,
Remember love and laughter; they're what's true.
Pam picked Lucien's poem "for his clever rhyming, and because this little verse shines with the truth about what is important". Lucien has won his poem on a £100 National Book Token and a bundle of poetry books. Congratulations!
Pam also wanted to give a special mention to these flash poems. Each poet will receive a copy of The Forward Book of Poetry 2020.
Victoria, for her sad sense of missed opportunity and 'if only':
If I spoke the truth, I'd say 'I like you, a lot.
But that's scary, so I'll probably not.
Someday I'll be brave, less shy.
For now let's settle with 'hi'.
Susan and Sara for their more day-to-day, but no less accurate, observations about bums and duvets.
Susan:
Always tell the truth
They tell you in Reception
But 'Does my bum look big in this?'
Might be the one exception.
Sara:
It's twelve o'clock, get out of bed,
Teenagers' mums have often said,
Conveniently forgetting that once they too,
Preferred a patterned duvet view.
Amanda, who cleverly sums up the mystery of attraction:
Proposal
The beard you grew doesn't suit you
and your sense of direction is awful
But, here's a strange thing,
you make my heart sing
Shall we make it lawful?