[Clive Watkins]

Dear Fellow Spherians

This post is to let you know that I have just emailed Alex Pepple to resign my post as moderator with effect from the end of August. This period of notice will I hope enable him to make suitable alternative arrangements. In any case, since I expect to be away from home off and on for much of the next few weeks, it may well be that I have already made my last post in the role of moderator. (See the Translation Forum.)

My decision has been long meditated. As is often the case, there are several reasons for it. One is the desire to give more time to my own writing: contributing critiques has rather often taken my energies away from this primary exercise of any writer. In any case, there is a season to all things, and I have come to feel that my particular interests and skills, such as they are, have perhaps run their course as far as Eratosphere is concerned.

I have very much enjoyed being one of the moderators and would like to thank everyone for the courtesy they have shown me over the past eighteen months. I hope to remain a member, though my contributions in the future are likely to be more intermittent and considerably briefer than has been my custom in the past.

I cannot end without thanking three people by name.

The first is Alex Pepple, without whom Eratosphere would never have come into existence.

The second is Tim Murphy. It was Tim’s interest in my own writing that drew me out of my literary retirement, an interest not outweighed by the opportunities which as a result of his encouragment have since come my way, in particular the opportunity of having a trade-press book. - Tim, you are a fine poet. You know how indebted I feel towards you.

Finally, there is Carol, another fine poet, without whose good sense, fair-mindedness and industry, often in the face of some most unreasonable attacks, Eratosphere would not have continued to thrive.

Kind regards to one and all. Keep writing – yes: but best of all, keep reading.

Your sincerely

Clive Watkins

[Wild Bill]

You gave the joint a lot of class, Clive. We'll miss you.

------------------
Bill

[VictoriaGaile]

I'll miss your contributions a great deal, Clive. Best of luck with your writing. I hope you'll still post from time to time. As there is an ebb and flow in many things, I hope the ebb will turn to flow and this will be more of a sabbatical than a farewell.

Victoria Gaile

[nyctom]

A Class Act Indeed.

Best to ye--
Tom

[Michael Cantor]

Your contributions have been learned and generous, and we shall miss you.

Michael

[Chris Childers]

I too am grateful for all you've done here. Best of luck in everything,

Chris

[Bruce McBirney]

Best wishes, Clive. I've always enjoyed your posts and have often found valuable insights in them that I hadn't seen elsewhere. 'Hope you stay active, whether as a moderator or not!

[Renate]

Dear Clive,

I wish you the very best with your writing and would like to thank you for the invaluable instruction your critiques have provided. You will be missed.

Best wishes,
Renate

[Robt_Ward]

Clive,

As an ex-moderator myself, I've communicated to you privately about your resignation. However, I'd like to thank you publicly for the very high level of scholarship, dedication, and patience you brought to the position.

I recall with considerable embarraassment my first PM to you welcoming you as my co-moderator, totally unaware of the very high level of skill and experience you were bringing to the post.

Your reply to that first communication was a masterpiece of civility, which made very clear your suitability to the position (so to speak) without in any way making me feel bad for having had the presumption to, essentially, "lecture" someone on a task at which he was already a master.

You will be missed, and I hope we may continue our correspondence. I value your input and friendship immensely.

(robt)

[Alder Ellis]

Clive -- I'll always remember the first of your posts that made an impression on me, a critique of a poem which somehow digressed into a brilliant and passionate commentary on the last stanza of Stevens's "Sunday Morning." I knew immediately that a "rare bird" had landed here, no doubt by accident, and I could only hope that it would stay for a while. Happily, it did. Now I can only hope that you will return sometimes and take the opportunity to write in that vein again, when the spirit so instructs you.

Or, when you write a poem, post it here & see what us lame-ass critters can make of it, as a matter of pure curiosity.

All the best....