The American poet Linda Gregg was a friend of William J. Dean, which is how I came to know her. She lived in New York and often met William at the New York Society Library. 

Although I was unable to obtain any of her poetry collections, she shared some of her poems with me. She died in 2019, a year before COVID arrived.

I consider her a lyrical poet and deeply admire her keen observations. She was the best in that and very, very original. 

Her poetry collections include Too Bright to See, her first, published in 1981; Alma; Sacraments of Desire; Things and Flesh; In the Middle Distance; and All of It Singing: New and Selected Poems. 

Sharing one of her poems, “Lies and Longing” - 

Half the women are asleep on the floor

on pieces of cardboard.

One is face down under a blanket

with her feet and ankle bracelet showing.

Her spear leans against the wall by her head

where she can reach it.

The woman who sits on a chair won’t speak

because this is not her dress.

An old woman sings an Italian song in English

and says she wants her name in lights:

Faye Runaway. Tells about her grown children.

One asks for any kind of medicine.

One says she has a rock that means honor

and a piece of fur.

One woman’s feet are wrapped in rags.

One keeps talking about how fat she is

so nobody will know she’s pregnant.

They lie about getting letters.

One lies about a beautiful dead man.

One lies about Denver. Outside

it’s Thirtieth Street and hot and no sun.