[Collected Poems] is a severely pruned collection of poems written by Enright between 1953 and now. What picture of the poet emerges from them? Academic, humanist, traveller. (p. 85)

But most of all a single scene comes to mind. The poet is at his desk in some far-flung corner of south-east Asia. It is night, so the desk lamp is switched on. The poet continues to write, as insects gather under the lamp. Then the lizards come and eat the insects. The insects think the poet is punishing them by feeding them to a spring-jawed dragon. That is the scenario of 'The faithful'. It ends:

             It isn't difficult to be a god.
             You hang your lantern out,
             Sink yourself in your own concerns
             And leave the rest to the faithful.
                                    (pp. 85-6)

And that is a large part of Enright's theme. It isn't difficult to be a god. But what...