Wordpress recent posts with comment count in sidebar template

gistfile1.php

<?php 

$currentID = get_the_ID();

$args = array(
    'orderby' => 'date'
    ,'order' => 'DESC'
    ,'showposts'=>6
    ,'post__not_in' => array($post->ID)
);



$my_query = new WP_Query($args);
if( $my_query->have_posts() ) {

  echo "<dl>";
  
  while ($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post(); 
  
  $recent_title = get_the_title();
  $recent_link  = get_the_permalink();
  $recent_date  = get_the_date();
  $recent_count = $post->comment_count;
  if ($recent_count < 1)        { $recent_count = 'Leave a Comment&nbsp;'; }
  else                          { $recent_count = "$recent_count <span class='iv'>Comments&nbsp;</span>"; }


  echo "<dt>$recent_date &nbsp; / &nbsp; <span class='comment'><a href='$recent_link#disqus_thread'>$recent_count</a></span></dt><dd><a href='$recent_link' title='$recent_title'>$recent_title</a></dd>";
  
  
  endwhile;

  echo "</dl>";

}
wp_reset_query();  // Restore global post data stomped by the_post().

?>