This Contest of Poems

To pick a good subject - to know what to do A matter that matters 'bout what, where and who To stick to the script and be stuck in a crowd? Or stick out as lonely as bright mushroom clouds? To take an old topic and make it sublime? Or try something different? A new paradigm! So what is my title? My content? My muse? This contest of poems - a fourth wall to use How can I triumph? The road that's less travelled And stop my quaint entry by judges be gavelled Perhaps a sob story just like a soap actor? But strongly suspect this is not the x factor I'm taking a risk on my own burning deck McGonagall style may become a train wreck With hope for good fortune and fame - we will see With outrageous fortune - perhaps not to be To quote from old masters like Kipling? As if! Or study Ed Lear and Og Nash to be diff I free inner Loki to help with this verse My rhyme is his strength and his metre my curse OK it's not perfect - at least it's a pause From praiseworthy entries without any flaws A poetry sandwich that's too good to bite A cheese marmite filling 'tween bread that is white If this is discarded as mere doggerel I'd be most offended - I'd be most unwell Perhaps not as lovely as J Kilmer's tree But entered by website - at least paper free So let's get this turning - let's get this run in But run short of wordage quite near to the fin My finger has typed - having tapped and moved on With such bad quotation I should sign anon I now reach the finish - I now read the rules My palm hits my face! Doh! I've been such a fool! I look at the clauses and take a self kick It costs six pound fifty - that's taking the mick! I have a spare stanza - to make lines two score Will use up this limit - no less and no more Win, lose or baffle - was well worth the strife Each year I shall enter - you've got me for life!