2 JUNE 1979, Page 21

True poetry

Sir: Mr Ernest W. Bacon's letter 'True poetry' (14 April) takes me a long way back to my early schooldays when 'free verse' was a lively issue with the jingle-rhyme brigade of a much older generation. I thought Mr Bacon as a specimen had long since died out. And I love Mr Bacon with all my heart. And I would like to take him home and put him on the mantelpiece. 0 rare Mr Ernest Bacon!

Muriel Spark Lungotevere, Raffaello Sanzio 9, Roma 00153, Italy