A Ballade of Detection
A Ballade of Detection is a poem written by Carolyn Wells published in The Evening Times (Washington) on 29 april 1902, then in The Bookman (US version) in may 1902.
Carolyn Wells wrote another similar poem in 1908 : Ballade of Baker Street.
Editions
- in The Evening Times (Washington) (29 april 1902 [US])
- in The Bookman (may 1902 [US])
- in The Minneapolis Journal (10 may 1902 [US]) 3 last stanzas
- in Santa Cruz Morning Sentinel (13 may 1902 [US])
- in Santa Cruz Evening Sentinel (13 may 1902 [US])
- in The Buffalo Commercial (17 may 1902 [US])
- in The Brooklyn Daily Times (31 may 1902 [US]) as The Ballade of Detection
Poem
Savants there be who joy to read
Of lofty themes in words that glow ;
Others prefer the poet's screed
Where liquid numbers softly flow.
Others in Balzac interest show,
Or by Dumas are much impressed ;
Some seek grim novels full of woe—
I like Detective Stories best.
To my mind nothing can exceed
The tales of Edgar Allan Poe ;
Of Anna Katharine Green I've need,
Du Boisgobey, Gaboriau ;
I've Conan Doyle's works all a-row,
And Ottolengui and the rest ;
How other books seem tame and slow !
I like Detective Stories best.
The dim, elusive clues mislead,
Hiding the mystery below ;
To fearful pitch my mind is keyed,
Opinion shuttles to and fro!
Sucessive shocks I undergo
Ere the solution may be guessed ;
Arguments and discussions grow—
I like Detective Stories best.
ENVOY:
Sherlock, thy subtle powers I know,
Spirit of search, incarnate quest,
To thee the laurel wreath I throw—
I like Detective Stories best.
- —Carolyn Wells.
