Local resident wins Washington Post contest for poetry. A regular staple at Sharazade’s monthly readings, John Burns said he started writing poetry as a fun hobby.

Last month the pastime got a bit of recognition when he won the Washington Post’s

“I like writing poetry,” he said of the pastime he’s taken up in recent years.

Burns said the contest was just designed to promote the PostPoints Program, as program for dedicated readers and subscribers of the paper and to celebrate National Limerick Day.

“I thought, ‘We’ve got a chance to win this,'” he said.

Burns won $100 for his submission and a little bit of notoriety.

He said he write various types of poems but enjoys the humorous stuff the best.

Limericks are defined as humours, frequently bawdy veres that rhyme.

“I like writing funny poetry,” he said.

Though Burns said he likes the second of three entrees he made best, the Post selected the following as the winner:

“Who said printed papers are dead?

Seven days a week, ours is read.

PostPoints has the deal,

With plenty appeal.

Just cash in your points; enough said.”

Burn’s winning poem ran in a special notice in the Tuesday May 12, edition of the paper.

Burns was one of five readers to win.

“I enjoy writing silly rhyming poem,” Burns said.

To learn more about the contest, visit washingtonpost.com/postpoints.