No. 510: The winners Trevor Grove reports : Competitors were
in- vited to compose an octet, using the given rhymes, on one of the following subjects : floods in the west; a busman on productivity; song of a hippy peasant. There was no great enthusiasm this week to burst into song on the subject of the freak floods in the West Coun- try; on the other hand, truculent busmen came in for some heavy sarcasm and J. Thompson's ingenious plea for a completely automated transport system deserves a particularly honour- able mention.
In view of the fact that a large number of competitors indentified the rhymes as from the opening lines of Goldsmith's 'The Deserted Village' (a guinea to M. Whitaker), it was sur- prising that a larger number of the hippy peasant brigade didn't attempt a parody; of those who did, the best was R. L. Sadler, who wins five guineas: Sweet Auburn! loveliest ploughboy of the plain At night would be a gay and swinging swain; By day bereft his coke, nor hemp-inspired, Would homeward plod his sullen way, dog-tired.
From golden hair, to shoulder hanging down, As from his flower-decked shirts, he gained renown; And put the other hippies in the shade: Milady, him with furtive glance surveyed.
There was only one runner-up this week, R. Kennard Davis, and he wins three guineas: I'm a cheerful improvident swain By negative motives inspired.
All active careers I've surveyed, To turn them relentlessly down.
My programme is simple and plain, Each mention of work makes me tired, I would rather recline in the shade And dream of a poet's renown.
Finally, a special prize of one guinea to the best of this week's new competitors, Denis Constable.
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