[Gregory Dowling]

Excuse the awkward title (with a perhaps unusual combination of names) of this thread. It's just to paste a link to the website of the Italian poetry journal, Semicerchio, where you can find a review (rather late, but this is an Italian journal) of John's Girlie Gangs by me, and a review of the new biography of Basil Bunting by Philip Morre. So three Sphereans in one Italian journal.

The website is not as beautiful as the print journal, I ought to add.

Oh, and perhaps I should also add that the reviews are in English.

[Susan McLean]

I enjoyed your review of John Whitworth.

Susan

[Maryann Corbett]

Gregory, your review of John W. seems to me spot-on and a pleasure to read--and I've got Girlie Gangs, so I know just what you're talking about. Thanks for the link, and I hope to get to Philip's piece later this evening.

[Bill Carpenter]

Thanks for the excellent review, Gregory. It's a delightful book. I have found that Walking the Dog sticks with me most. And thanks for pointing out they're in alphabetical order. Next time, John, maybe from longest to shortest?

[Ed Shacklee]

It's odd how you ended your review of Girlie Gangs with a (fine) discussion of "Little," Gregory -- for all the poet's comedic flourishes, I keep getting tugged back to that brief, achingly sad, understated poem. It amazes that, in a world so in need of a good laugh, this book is not a best seller.

Best,

Ed

[John Whitworth]

Ed, I often think I will never write a better poem than'Little' I often think. Still, one keeps trying.

Gregory, what can I say? So sensitive to what I try to do. And so agreeably LONG. Why should I care that I don't get reviewed in the UK, when Italy, Australia and the uS of A do me so proud. Oh, and I've started talking to myself as I go out walking. Of course it doesn't stand out. Everybody is talking to the air. But they have mobile phones. I used to talk to myself when I was young, before I started the poetry lark.

I had forgotten about the alphabetical order, Bill. That was to facilitate finding the bloody things at a reading. You will note that 'Little' is not in alphabetical order because I so much wanted it to be the LAST poem.

[Gregory Dowling]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind remarks. And thanks especially to John. I'm very glad you liked it. Sorry it took so long.

[Catherine Chandler]

Congratulations, John! Thank you for the link, Gregory.