6 OCTOBER 1990, Page 45

No. 1648: Bouts times

You are invited to write a poem with the following rhyme-scheme: wax, knocks, cocks, thwacks, lacks, unlocks, ox, axe, frivolousness, glut, less, belief, thief, occi- put. Entries to 'Competition No. 1648' by 19 October. A tenner to the first person who identifies the poem from which the rhyme-scheme is borrowed. Envelopes will be opened in random order.