I’d like to congratulate all our poets this time round. Whether elegy, eulogy or epitaph, such passion is the stuff of poetry after all. So in order of posting, here are the seven poets with their eight poems:
Araminta tells her two tales of affection with panache and maybe a touch of John Betjeman. Are you a Hunter Dunn?
theroyalist pines for his unrequited love in nature’s garden amid ‘a kaleidoscope of a thousand Joseph coats’. Excellent.
FEEG modestly offers his own take on the sad truth that sometimes the cost of a pet outweighs its benefits. Poor Nelson!
Bilby’s unusual friendship is a real tear-jerker. Some delightful turns of phrase and deft touches.
O Zangado introduces Newbolt to Kipling with his touching ode to a beloved cat. And all to the beat of Drake’s Drum.
jhleck opens the archive and treats us to his memories of a faithful companion. No man hath greater love, perhaps?
And papaguinea made a late run to tell us how even a pet’s demise can have a silver lining for some.
My shortlist was a no-holds-barred between Bearded Henley and Fogo Der Fürball, fought out somewhere in a hot climate.
And in the end:
Call it Muse or call it Fate, OZ is our latest laureate!
Congratulations!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Well done OZ 🙂
Congratulations OZ 🙂
Well judged, Janus; an excellent choice. Congratulations, OZ! 🙂
Congrats OZ.
And thanks Janus for a great competition. Enjoyed all the entries.
Nice one, OZ
thumbs up!
Oh gosh! Blush, preen, groom, groom.
Thank you Janus and fellow contestants for all your kind comments. Give me a little while to come up with a topic worthy of fellow Charioteers’ attention.
OZ
Nicely and amusingly judged, Janus. I’m most certainly a Hunter Donne, or Dun, if not finished!
Well Dun, OZ, and congratulations. 🙂