For nearly a decade, Tom Dow has coordinated and helped organize the Tokyo Writers Workshop in Takadanobaba every third Sunday 1-5 p.m. TWW was founded as the Tokyo English Literary Society by Thomas Ainaly in 1977 and the publication that contained many of the members' work became Printed Matter.
Though the current TWW has no official connection with the journal, Tom Dow was the poetry editor for PM for several years and his second book of poems, "Different Gates," was published under the PM imprint in 1995. Dow's relationship with poetry in Japan has not only been as an editor and director but also as a generous contributor to journals of small press such as The Plaza, Kirin no Me and Yomimono. In the U.S. his work has appeared in Evergreen Chronicles, Peal (a journal which welcomes submissions from Japan-based poets), and forthcoming in the new periodical publishing short poetry, "Tundra."
To mark Dow's repatriation and to celebrate his poetry, a reading to feature Dow will take place at the library of Temple University Japan on Feb. 25, 6-8 p.m. This TUJ series features an accomplished poet in a comfortable lounge next to racks of poetry volumes and journals of scholarly and general interest, providing a relaxing atmosphere (along with wine, bread and cheese) to contemplate readings and engage the participants. Below are two of Dow's shorter, untitled works. In this October morningdrizzle,tucked at the foot of the large jade plant,a rounded loaf of river rock is half shiny like a frog,and half dull gray and dry:I remember I'm leaving Japan soon.Colleague: until now, we've only met at committee meetings,both of us sitting with our hands nicely folded,like cats smiling while dreaming of some savage act.But just now come around a corner,you're on a Harley, drenched in black leather. Hi.