Benjamin Saltman began writing poetry seriously in 1965. Deck is his fourth published book. His poems have appeared in a number of magazines, such as Kayak, Shenandoah, Massachusetts Review, Ironwood. A new book of poems, Wood County Elegies, is sched- uled for publication in spring, 1980. Saltman lives in Northridge, California, is married, and has three young daughters. Since 1967 he has taught verse writing and contemporary American literature at California State University, Northridge.