Dearest Erminia
Glad to hear Oxford was a success, and also
from Jill that Sydney was a hoot, and from
the various New Zealand and Canadian readings.
Maria Louisa Straziani also told a lovely story
about a Mediterranean poetry Festival some years
back in Morocco. All 38 poets were to file past
the King of Morocco and recite a short poem or fragment
to his highness at the outset. She was 17th and a close
friend 19th, the 18th poet was an Arab poet, so pleased
to have a captive royal audience that he read for an hour
and a half, non-stop, in a monotonous Tum Tum Ta Tum Tum
rhythm that haunter her dreams for days...
As for my returning to OZ, no I'm Italy based until
the end of June (just back from readings in Puglia
at the University of Lecce and soon to read at
Poesia Napoli). I'll spend a little time in France
and Belgium in July, then visit West Ireland before
reading for the Australian Festival in Dublin from
3rd to 6th of August. I'll be in London August 7th to
15th, so maybe we can meet up, perhaps a day-trip to
Oxford?
By the way, I'm told the Penguin Catullus in English
is just out in the UK, and Antipodean representation
among the translators comprises James K. Baxter, the
excellent New Zealand poet, and myself. My contributor's
copy was sent from Germany to Melbourne and is now flying
slowly north to Rome.
I've been reading the new Feb/March Australian Book
Review, and under new editor Peter Rose it seems more
interesting (with poems included for the first time by
Gig Ryan and Rosemary Dobson). What do others who've
seen it think?
ciao, regards
Hugh Tolhurst
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