The Art of Elizabeth Bishop (Part 1 of 5)

Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979) published fewer than 100 poems during her life. For this relatively modest body of work she was awarded, among other honors, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Books Abroad/Neustadt International Prize for Literature. At the same time, her work is surprisingly accessible and a delight to read out loud. During this 5-part workshop, we’ll consider why such a “straight-forward talker” occupies such a preeminent position among American poets.

Jeff Cohen, a Delmar resident, will facilitate the workshop sessions. Jeff has lead similar poetry workshops at Saratoga Springs Public Library and, more recently, an Emily Dickinson series here in Bethlehem. Jeff is a recently retired attorney, whose career spanned private practice and public service.

Please Note: Your registration for session 1 will automatically sign you up for all 5 sessions. If you are only interested in individual sessions, please contact luke@bethpl.org.

Session #1: April 4, 2023. Please read the following poems prior to the session:

• Sestina
• One Art

Session #2: April 11, 2023. Please read the following poems prior to the session:

• The Moose
• In the Waiting Room

Session #3: April 18, 2023. Please read the following poems prior to the session:

• Roosters
• The Armadillo

Session #4: May 2, 2023. Please read the following poems prior to the session:

• Arrival at Santos
• Santarém

Session #5: May 9, 2023. Please read the following poems prior to the session:

• To be determined