In the first Elizabethan era, popular ballads often fulfilled the
function of present-day newspapers-e.g., a ballad on the Queen's speech at Tilbury (when the Armada was on its way) was written and printed in London on the following day. The usual prize was offered for sixteen lines of a Fleet Street ballad on one of the following : The Railway- men's Complaint, Operation Snowdrop, Facts about Flying Saucers, The Shocking Fate
11t one thinks of the term 'ballad' as ex- cluding those degenerations of the form Which come under the heading of 'broad- sheet verse,' then it is true to say that our best ballad-makers showed an ease of technique and approach that calls for wariness in their imitators. The marvellous directness which, in the ballad of 'Sir Patrick Spens,' is employed to sustain and illuminate an indirect narrative method, is not arrived at without considerable fore- thought. He who hesitates, before plunging into ballad-composition, is saved. This fac- tor quickly ruled out those entrants who showed evidence of having hesitated while writing. The rest maintained so high a standard that judging has been unusually difficult. In view of the leeway that must be granted in shaping the form to parallel Fleet Street demands, I have decided that Irene Poulton's translation of beside-the- news comment displaying a genuine emo- tion qualifies for a first prize of £2. The re- mainder is divided equally between Major A. W. Dicker, A. M. Sayers and G. J. Blundell. Highly commended : John A. S. MacDonald, R. Kennard Davis, J. C. M., Eileen Tulloch, Pibwob, D. R. Peddy, A. J. W. I., Allan M. Laing, H. A. C. Evans.
Operation Snowdrop
All praise is due to the selfless, dauntless crews Of the planes that brought fresh hope to the hillside farms.
It circled round the Albert Hall, As if in curiosity, Then headed north across Hyde Park, At marvellous velocity.
A Bus Conductress, Ethel Tate, Says it was 'round, and kind of red' While Colonel Brown of Rutland Gate, Describes it 'square, and grey as lead.'
A spokesman in Whitehall today, Said, 'Clouds play funny tricks at night"( Will readers please write in to say, Whether they think this view is right.
The Railwaymen's Complaint
(G. J. BLUNDELL)
Black January veiled the sun; The frost was bitter then;
But bitterer were the words upon
The lips of railwaymen.
'We strike upon the given day Unless you foot our bill. Still shall he the Iron Way Unless we have our will.'
Then up spake good Sir Walter bold; A valiant man was he.
Across the storm, he cried, 'Nay, hold!, Good railwaymen are ye.
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