21 FEBRUARY 1969, Page 27

No. 541: Octet

COMPETITION

Competitors are invited to compose an eight- line poem or stanza of a poem on any one of the subjects given below, using four of the fol- lowing five pairs of words as end-rhymes. The rhymes are taken from a well-known poem. The rhyme scheme is optional.

The words: benighted, alighted; talked of, balked of; before, footsore; rigour, figure; shrinking, sinking.

The subjects: Thoughts on the motorway box; a novel holiday brochure. Mrs Wilson on Hamlet at the Roundhouse.

In addition to the usual prizes, a special prize of one guinea will be awarded to the first entry opened that correctly identifies the poem from which the rhymes were taken. Entries, marked 'Competition No. 541; by 3 March.