19 APRIL 1986, Page 25

At the vegetable counter

From Cyprus, pommes de terre not pommes d'amour -

Deep winter, our own murphies past their best. But these are thin-skinned as the goddess, tanned Lightly, as she, too, in that sunshine must Have been, and powdered appropriately with sand.

Aged, I've come to relish more and more The simple spud, provided of decent breed Boiled in its jacket, preferably; hot or cold. A poet shipped it first, with that smouldering weed I've given up; as Venus does the old.

Roy Fuller