16 AUGUST 1986, Page 23

Dead Hill

You argued up that dead hill's streaming side, You blamed and queried all the way. And so did I.

You grumbled while you scrambled at the top, You neither glanced nor gazed But drew mere rancour from the feathery rain To raise new frowns And argue down again.

And I did too. I did I know.

I argued up and down that hill like you.

You'd never think our two sharp pointed tongues Could once have met caressingly To speak in darkness tip to tip