Eight unclued lights spell out the second half of a poem: ‘8 (4,5) 37; 1D (6,4); 39 (3,6) 40; 10 (3,5,2) 24 25.’ The title cryptically suggests its author.

        Across

   1    Gossipy quartet of bridge players play at last (5)

   4    Accompanying Ford, Maggie’s oddly withdrawn (9)

11    Duty of French king after a month (6)

12    Looking happy, retired setter’s invading pitch (7)

14    Benders in Tyneside perhaps captured in Loach film (5)

15    Nirvana composer (5)

16    Ten silent guards store food for livestock (6)

22    Ale discombobulated the sailors of Morocco, perhaps (8)

23    Old lady heard someone munching sorbet (7)

27    Invent an absolutely round window (7)

29    Boldness of Calvin’s Reformation over a year (8)

32    Favour eating hot American Indian dish (6)

34    Carpet that goes on the roof (5)

35    As she’s sad, sons all disappeared in the van (5)

36    Cannabis residue is found in hospitals (7)

38    Finally puts batter on fish and tripe (10)

         Down

   2    Student and I leaving dictionary for old lag (2-3)

   3    Dirty Doris sadly died (6)

   4    Distinguished rapper fails to finish books (7)

   5    Nieces glad to get treatment for squint (4,6)

   6    Angrily slam WHO for current principle (4,3)

   7    In one’s mind, forgetting people count (5)

   9    Food produced in layers (4)

13    As a rule, extremely uxorious friend supports United (7)

15    Scottish island sits on neon gas (6)

17    Perhaps lead kind of rock group? (5,5)

18    Narrator of old story upset boring bishop (7)

19    At home with dad, everyone interrupts relative at the same time (2,8)

20    Cricketer Ali ran carelessly into supporter (5,4)

21    Drip gripped by fury in bank (6)

26    Chaps cycling backwards with idiots, mostly in a group (2,5)

28    Encircles half of them and dances (7)

30    Kind of 27 ejecting Indian dog (6)

31    Heartily greet revolting toper full of hard spirit (5)

33    Island nation near us regularly ignored sport (5)

34    Wings of sluggish, ageing bird (4)

A first prize of £30 and two runners-up prizes of £20 for the first correct solutions opened on 20 March. Please scan or photograph entries and email them (including the crossword number in the subject field) to crosswords@spectator.co.uk, or post to: Crossword 2594, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery. The dictionary prize is not available at present.

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