As most of my friends know, Elizabeth Bishop is my favorite poet. The publishing of the updated version of her poem collection (which includes some complete, but never published poems) is a great literary event to me. (Bishop was born on Feb 8th, 1911, so it is also to commemorate her 100th birthday.) Though I already had all her poems covered in various different forms, I bought one extra copy so I can give them away.
I first knew Bishop's work not through her poems, but through her letters. Her letter collection, One Art, contains the most witty, observant, and well-written letters I have ever laid my eyes on. (The introduction by Robert Giroux, Bishop's lifetime friend and publisher, is also the best intro on the poet's life and work.) I recommend any one who's interested in her poems also reads her letters. You will see how a poem is forged, sometimes poignantly, through life experience.
I know I will not stop talking for 3 days if I continue on this topic, so I have to force myself to stop now.
P.S. You can read Bishop's poem "One Art" on poets.org.
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