26 AUGUST 1989, Page 37

No. 1591: Cudgel your brains

`Rhopalics' are verses in which each line thickens towards the end 'like a cudgel' because each word in it has one more syllable than the one before. You are challenged to write a 16-line rhopalic blank verse epistle with four words per line. Telegraphese is allowed, e.g. 'Dear Flora, instantly communicate. Dad daily weaken- ing...' etc. Entries to 'Competition No. 1591' by 8 September.

The top winner of this and the next 11 competitions will receive a bottle of Cognac Otard VSOP, presented by the Château de Cognac.