Judge Not

JUDGE NOT When somebody asks me to judge his verse And tell him my expert point of view, I say, “With pleasure,” but inside I curse. Should I be kindly or should I be true? He says it’s a sonnet but when I count There’s just thirteen lines and the metre’s wrong. I point out that fourteen’s the right amount And that some of the lines are far too long. I suggest he makes some alterations And do some work on the rhythm and timing. I think that ends my deliberations Oh – and he needs to work on his rhyming. I tell him that, other than that, it’s fine. And hope he doesn’t read any of mine. 3rd May 2021 Judge Not Lest Ye Be contest Sponsor - John Lawless