29 MARCH 1968, Page 30

On pornography and censorship

Sir : In his recent contribution 'On pornography and censorship' (1 March), Denis Brogan notes that many cultures lytive a rich store of sex jokes.' He adds: 'True, there are none in the Old Testament but there are no jokes of any kind in the Old Testament.'

This- is too tempting a challenge to let pass. Early in the first chapter of 'The Song of Songs' there is a poem which appears to contain a risque joke in its ambiguous concluding line: 'I am black, but comely, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem . . .

My mother's sons were incensed against me, They made me keeper of the vineyards; But mine own vineyard have I not kept.'

Lester W. Mather 32 Westminster Road, Morecambe, Lancashire