On no – what have we done. After being roundly castigated for describing conveyancing and probate as ‘prosaic’, the Gazette coupled a shamefaced apology with a tongue-in-cheek plea for poems celebrating those undervalued disciplines.

And still they come. This week Peter W Marsh, of Peter W Marsh & Co in Melton Mowbray, takes us to task (sort of) in rhyming couplets under the witty title ‘Pro-veyancing’ (geddit?). Here goes:

My role is to conveyI do it every working day

It may be fun to go to courtAnd argue juicy points of tort

But while my work may be prosaicYou cannot say that it’s archaic

Getting all my titles rightHelps my client sleep at night

I also get to make some willsWhich helps a little with my bills

Shame on you to put me down [Obiter’s note: hang on, you’ve just described conveyancing as ‘prosaic’ yourself]Your editorial made me frown

To each of us our chosen nicheEven if it is a lease

It’s good to see you’ve shown remorseEven though I shun divorce

I’ll stick to that which I do bestEven though you’re not impressed.

But we are impressed, Peter, a fine effort (perfect scansion). Next week: ‘The rime of the ancient international dispute arbitrator’.