A short verse to celebrate the birthday of actress Nerys Hughes, most famous for her role in The Liver Birds.
A Clerihew to mark the disappointing news that the Olympic marathon in London won’t be graced by all-time great Haile Gebrselassie who has failed to make the Ethiopian team for 2012
A birthday poem in Clerihew style to celebrate the 90th birthday of Sir Tom Finney, the finest footballer England has ever produced, and a man of great modesty.
A short verse celebrating Paddington Bear’s voting in as the most popular children’s TV character of all time.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 reported in Clerihew style.
A short verse noting that the Discovery Channel has dropped plans for further series by explorer Bear Grylls, who has sometimes been accused of taking to his hotel room while supposedly roughing it.
To celebrate the #poetfilms thread on Twitter, here’s my list of the top 12 poet films ever made.
A short verse noting the angry outburst by Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King when unfairly challenged by the Treasury Select Committee about his record, specifically his failure to curtail bankers’ unquenchable thirst for a profit at the taxpayers’ expense.
A short verse in the style of EC Bentley to greet the news that Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream is due to be auctioned at New York, with an expected price tag of £50million.
A short verse marking the recent spate of interest in the artist Lucien Freud who died last year, with major exhibitions planned and TV documentaries screened which dwelt on the enormous number of children Freud fathered, often with his models as the mother.
A short verse welcoming the news that veteran pint sized comedian Ronnie Corbett has picked up his CBE from Her Majesty the Queen.
A short verse celebrating the return to form of England batsman Kevin Pietersen who scored his first one day hundred since 2008 in a ODI against Pakistan yesterday.
A short verse regretting the coalition horse trading that saw Les Ebdon appointed Boss of the ridiculous Office of Fair Access – with the intention of penalising universities that don’t do enough social engineering to suit his tastes.
A short verse worrying about the growing nuclear capability of sworn enemy of the West, Iran.
A short Clerihew verse noting the decision to charge Energy Secretary Chris Huhne with contempt of court in relation to an alleged driving offence.
A short verse (which has to be read in an Edinburgh accent for the rhymes to work properly) noting that ex-RBS chief Sir Fred Goodwin has been stripped of his knighthood, despite having broken no laws and only being guilty of a catastrophic error of judgement,
A short Clerihew to commemorate the life of popular boxing trainer Angelo Dundee who has passed away after a lifetime guiding great champions like Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammed Ali. He first met Ali (then Clay) when the latter was 15 and was immediately impressed by the young boxer’s abilities.
A Clerihew commenting on RBS CEO Stephen Hester’s reluctant decision to give up his bonus following a campaign of media hysteria and class envy politics.
A short verse to mark the appointment of artist David Hockney to the Order of Merit, one of the greatest tributes in British public life. Already a Companion of Honour, Hockney must now be British art’s toppermost dog.
A short verse lamenting the theft of one of Dame Barbara Hepworth’s masterpieces from Dulwich Park. The police think the thieves will melt down Two Forms.
A short verse noting the passing of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il who starved his people, amassed one of the largest armies on earth and sustained his power with an elaborate and improbable cult of personality
A few words in the form of a short verse remembering Christopher Hitchens, the writer, humanist, atheist and contrarian who died yesterday.
A short verse marking the depressing announcement by the head of the IMF Christine Lagarde that the future looks like it will be “gloomy” for most economies.
A short verse about the much-trailed announcement by scientists at CERN that they haven’t found anything conclusive in their search for the Higgs Bosun.
A short Cleihew verse to mark the passing of proper poet and comic versifier Christopher Logue, who has died at the age of 85.
A short verse noting that Portsmouth FC’s parent company Convers Sports Initiatives plc has gone into administration and that Russian Chairman Vladimir Antonov has left the beleaguered club.
A short verse assessing how the varied and innovative work of film-maker Ken Russell, who died yesterday, will be remembered.
A short verse on comedian Jimmy Carr’s defence of a series of close to the knuckle gags which have, not unexpectedly, caused offence in some quarters.
A short verse reflecting on the evidence given by Steve Coogan to the Leveson Inquiry into the conduct of the Press and its invasion of the privacy of many people in the public eye, including the creator of Alan Partridge.
A short verse noting the different attitudes to the work of artist Damien Hirst, who has been awarded a retrospective exhibition in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall
A short verse marking the death of Worcestershire’s Basil D’Oliveira, whose cricketing deeds had a wider beneficial impact in the land of his birth.
A short verse dissecting the reasons for Martin Johnson’s departure as England coach amid foam-flecked fury at England’s moderate rugby, reluctant dwarf-tossing and accomplished drinking.
A short verse noting the BBC’s decison to chop Shooting Stars from its schedule after nearly twenty years of silliness.
A short verse to mark the passing of heavyweight boxing superstar Smokin’ Joe Frazier who endured repeated taunts and insults from his great rival Muhammed Ali with dignity.
A short verse on the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – the highest paid footabller in Italy and recent author of his modestly titled book I, Zlatan – with the Sweden football team. England beat Sweden 1-0. Zlatan hardly got a kick. O, Zlatan.
A short verse reflecting on the tricky task ahead for the new Prime Minister of bankrupt Greece.
A short verse lamenting the posturing, points scoring and outright sliminess of some of the members of the Commons Select Committee enquiry into the conduct of News International
A short verse commenting on the expected resignation of Silvio Berlusconi from his long-held position as Prime Minister of Italy
A short verse noting the economically-induced change of Greek Prone Minister amid a chaotic political scene in Athens.
A short verse reacting to the news that the Home Secretary did not authorise the extension of a pilot scheme to relax certain border checks.