I have not heard this mentioned here. Have any of you seen this story? What's up with this?

                                                             Reg

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Dylan misfire: This week's news, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, that Bob Dylan may have lifted lines from a book by Japanese author Junichi Saga is disturbing. In recent times, writers accused of plagiarism have gotten into deep trouble. But because Saga has said he won't sue and because his editor says the writer is ''flattered,'' the reaction against Dylan has been muted.

The matchups don't look like coincidence: Phrases from Saga's ''Confessions of a Yakuza'' are echoed by nearly identical lines in the song ''Floater'' on Dylan's last album, ''Love and Theft.'' Saga wrote, ''I'm not as cool or forgiving as I might have sounded''; Dylan sings, ''I'm not quite as cool or forgiving as I sound.'' ''My old man would sit there like a feudal lord'' (from ''Confessions'') is eerily similar to Dylan's ''My old man, he's like some feudal lord.'' The Journal's list goes on, citing a total of 12 instances in five songs.

The paper couldn't reach Dylan for comment but quoted his manager, Jeff Rosen, as saying, ''As far as I know, Mr. Dylan's work is original.'' The legendary songwriter has had nothing to say publicly. Sorry, something stinks about this.