[Janice D. Soderling]

If my suggestion for your poem seems to alter your intent, know that I didn't come up with the suggestion out of thin air, but suggested something that seemed consistent with elements of the poem as you posted it.

Yes, Roger, that is where this kind of comment is extremely useful. It tells me, the writer, that I am not getting across what I had hoped to get across. I have full respect for the crit per se.

Again, off topic. Regarding the Montale poem, I went back to re-read it just now and the George Key translation still blows my mind. This may be because I assimilated it early.

Then I went to look at the original in the bilingual edition (translated and annotated by) Jonathan Galassi. With respect to Galassi, who has done a monumental job, his translation (of that particular poem) fails to move me as the George Key translation does. So I am unsure about my previous statement regarding translator fidelity. As we know, language is a tricky business.