“Poetry,” Marianne Moore

Marianne Moore (1887-1972) resides in the upper echelon of American literature and poetics; she’s even considered a poet’s poet, beloved by literary heavyweights like T.S. Eliot and William Carlos Williams. Moore was a constant friend and mentor to Elizabeth Bishop, and her work, like Bishop’s, focused on precise description and execution. “Poetry” (1919; 1935) outlines Moore’s own stance on the poet’s role in art and life. 

“Memories of West Street and Lepke,” Robert Lowell

Robert Lowell (1917-1977) and Elizabeth Bishop shared a close friendship, despite Lowell’s Confessional poetics and Bishop’s loathe of that form. Lowell’s poetry, however, sheds light on the style toward which American poetry pivoted in the 20th century—a style Bishop found too personal and forward. “Memories of West Street and Lepke” (1959) exemplifies Lowell’s personal, subjective voice as he recalls living in Boston and spending time in jail.

“The Armadillo,” Elizabeth Bishop

“The Armadillo” (1957) highlights Bishop’s attention to detail and insistence on precise language. Bishop dedicated the poem to Robert Lowell; it is considered one of her best-known poems.