Poems At Dawn (Poetry)

He sent her a passionate sonnet
his rival dismissed it with scorn
so he challenged the man to a dual —
the best of three poems at dawn

They rode in with pens at the ready
and rhymes loaded up to the hilt
his rival sneered ‘You’re dead already!’
he riposted ‘Bard, do what thou wilt!’

They circled each other like tigers
his rival offguard didn’t see
when a quick witty couplet came flying
which wounded his pride literally

Not amused he shot back with a haiku
then a villanelle followed it through
but neither got close to the target
(and rejected by publishers, too)

The rondeau he wrote about losing
won the Bridport the very next year
the smart girl they both loved wed a banker
hence the lesson rhymed out loud and clear

While the ladies might fawn over poets
their earnings it has to be said
don’t make them good prospects as husbands
even bakers bring home daily bread