14 JANUARY 2006, Page 20

Dactylic delights

From John Rattray

Sir: Further to Grey Gowrie’s review (Books, 31 December), while the ‘Higgledy Piggledy’ form of comic verse may be of recent invention, the double dactylic is by no means a recently invented poetic form, as will have been apparent to those singing ‘O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness’ at Epiphany recently.

John Rattray London SW12