Carolyn and others on the list,
The
quoted lines are from "The Golden Gate," a novel in verse by the gay
Indian writer Vikram Seth, which he was inspired to write after reading
Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin." In a rare 2006 interview in the Times
India Supplement, Seth answers an interviewer's question about Steele
and Tim.
Q: In the dedication you mention the gentle hands of
Steele and also Tim. Who is Steele and Tim and are they one and the
same person?
A: Timothy Steele is an American poet, now
based in Los Angeles . At that time he was teaching at Stanford. I
learnt a lot about the art and craft of poetry from Timothy. He has had
a great influence on me.
I hope this helps,
Barry Warren