Thanks to all for your encouragement. I'd be happy to correct any English errors I find. I taught English here in the US and in Italy.

Though I said I have no good reason to be studying Russian, I realized after I wrote that I really do. Anna Akhmatova. I've read everything I can find by her and about her (in English) and I would love to be able to appreciate her in Russian.

I'll start posting questions tomorrow.

Z