[Tim Murphy]

Dear Friends,
>
> Most of you know that I've been tied up of late with the County, and some of
> you know about my next book, A Homecoming in the Next Parish Over, due out
> later this year. But I learned yesterday I will be reading my verse in the
> Italian Alps in September along with the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, and
> a number of well known English poets. It's been an international event for
> several years and I will be in the book they annually prepare and on
> Independent Television. I am told that I will be rubbing elbows with
> important government officials from Europe, including the Milan Council
> Director and the British Council General. I will definitely not be reading
> "Elvis Kissed Me."
>
>
> Best,
>
>
> Tom
>Yay, Tom! Tim

[T.S. Kerrigan]

Allow me to clarify. As I explained to Tim, Italian customs, perhaps sharing the belief that I am a potentially disreputable individual, held up my entry for two months (I envision a couple of post-Mussolini types reading my verse backwards and forwards) so that I was too late for the official judging. Gabriel Griffin, the gracious poet who runs this annual affair, nevertheless liked my poems, and included one in the book which is produced in media res. She also invited me over to read some of my poetry while the TV cameras are running, which I intend to do health permitting. I understand I will be one of the few Americans at this mostly Sassenach affair.