[Jayne Osborn]

Helping John out, here's the new comp.

Jayne


Competition No. 2753: country music

You are invited to submit a new national anthem for Greece (16 lines max.). Please email entries, where possible, to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 27 June.

[Brian Allgar]

In my view, this competition's another turkey.

[Jayne Osborn]

Heck, we're getting this view a lot lately - NS, Oldie and Speccie have all elicited comments such as this, Brian. They can't have run out of ideas, surely?

I must admit I hate topical subjects. It means expending time and effort on a 'throwaway' poem that dates too soon; no good for future readings.

Now... 'turkey' would make a better comp, don't you think?

Jayne

[John Whitworth]

Well I don't know. here's a stanza. Perhaps I can add to it.

The Isles of Greece, the Isles of Greece,
Where Aristotle made his drachs,
Where billion zillions made increase
And all of it was free of tax,
Where the Great Olive smoked and stank
And chaps had money in the bank.

[Brian Allgar]

They can't have run out of ideas, surely?

Well, have you counted the number of times recently that the NS has said "here's one from the fifties"?

But reverting to the Spectator, perhaps I should have written

"In my view, this competition's another Turkey."

[Jerome Betts]

I think I remember that years ago more of the competitions were 'set by' readers and competitors. You were invited to send in suggestions. Can''t remember if it was 'on a postcard, please' but I managed two in the NS and one in The Spectator at £5 a time, very welcome in the days when the rent of a bed-sit might be £3 a week or so. Must be quite a task to come up with 50 or so a year on your own. Perhaps they should invite (? paid)reader participation again?

[John Whitworth]

But they do. Bill made up a competition only a few weeks back.

[Ann Drysdale]

Might be an idea to have a listen to the current Ethnicos Ymnos, so we have a Sullivan to our Gilberts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW74t...eature=related

[Nigel Mace]

The thread is worth it for that witticism, Ann - so neatly put.

Best,
Nigel

[Jayne Osborn]

Lovely voices, Ann, but it was all Greek to me!

Jayne