13 MAY 1978, Page 19

Bad Dada

James Michie

Charged by the music police With issuing false notes The hangdog oboist Scuttles on tropical ice Viewed from sofas on cliffs With raptest inattention By a superb committee Of Second Empire stiffs.

Unease! Absence of germs, Metaphor, weather! But under The lee of a limp crag Something of interest squirms, Ochreous, vermiform — The sort of birth one's hands Itch to cram back inside The raped womb of the norm.