When the Eat Out team held an open call for bagel-themed limericks in TONY 667, we had no idea our readers’ entries would make us so hungry. Thirty-one rhymes were submitted—including a record nine from poetess Susan Delman—but the top prize (a baker’s dozen from Absolute Bagels, and Fairway smoked salmon and schmear) went to Allison Klein of Cobble Hill and Michelle Paul of Park Slope.

WINNER!There was a young woman who boasted, “At all the brunch parties I’ve hosted, no omelettes or tea have been served by me— just plain, poppy and sesame: toasted!”

“I like this one because it has the greatest variety of bagels, and I too like mine toasted,” said guest judge David Lehman, series editor of The Best American Poetry. The Eat Out staff also gave props to the following runners-up:

There’s one thing I’d like to make clear:
That the two foods I love most to pair
Are not steak with fries
Or ice cream with pies,
But bagels served scooped with a schmear. —Emily Koltnow

I’m a very hip lady from Queens,
Who lives solely on bagels and greens.
My health is just right,
My body’s still tight.
Screw Atkins, I fit in size zero jeans! —Amie B. Mizzi