Wordpress recent posts with comment count in sidebar template

gistfile1.php

    <?php 
    
    $args = array(
        'orderby' => 'date'
        ,'order' => 'DESC'
        ,'showposts'=>6
    );
    
    $my_query = new WP_Query($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>"
      
      echo "</dl>";
      
      endwhile;
    }
    wp_reset_query();  // Restore global post data stomped by the_post().
    
    ?>