This is John O'Loughlin's first real collection of poems, written on and off during 1973-75, and it reflects the lyricism and formal simplicity of youth, showing the influence of poets like Rimbaud, Ezra Pound, Adrian Henri, and Doors lead singer Jim Morrison on his formative years as a writer. - A modest but by no means insignificant start to his literary career, which began pleasantly enough in Merstham, Surrey, before progressing first to Finsbury Park and then to Crouch End in north London (where he got the inspiration for the title poem), DOSSHOUSE BLUES will particularly intrigue those with a provincial background who have personal experience of solitary life in cheap urban lodgings.