Johnston also speaks Latin, having honed his skills during an eight-week summer program of intense reading, writing and speaking with the Rev. Reginald Foster, a Carmelite monk who translates Vatican documents into Latin. During his Marshall interview, Johnston was asked to do a sight translation of a Latin poem by Catullus. He credits a high school English teacher, Bill Pell, with encouraging him to write poetry, hopes to teach creative writing himself, either at the high school or university level. And so did Dickey. Johnston was asked what poem he would recommend to the selection committee when members returned home.
Dickey says there is a legend among farmboys that men and sheep can produce progeny.
At some point Johnston realized he had selected a poem about bestiality. I understand completely.