THE start of a new year is always time for taking stock.

Robert Frost does so, somewhat apocalyptically, in one of his best known poems . As succinct as it is masterly, The New England sage once famously remarked that writing poetry without rhyme was like playing tennis with the net down, a challenging view in an era in which free verse largely reigns.

FIRE AND ICE

Some say the world will end

in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of

desire

I hold with those who favour

fire.

But if I had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of

hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.