Who knew? The poet Elizabeth Bishop also painted. Exchanging Hats is a collection of her paintings. I found her paintings to be very ironic: one is aptly titled, "Grave with Floral Wreaths" (which I appreciate, as I've always been intrigued by the practice of putting fake flowers on graves); others prominently feature downed power lines, or normal power lines cutting through the picture; another is "of" a building obscured by plants in the foreground. "Tombstones for Sale" is the name of another painting.
At the top of the picture above is written the charming blessing: "May the Future's Happy Hours Bring You Rice & Beans & Flowers."
William Benton, who edited the collection of paintings, doesn't add very much, although I find to be particularly insightful the observation that "The general rule of a Bishop picture is: If a table exists, put flowers on it."
The book also includes some excerpts from Bishop's letters about painting and a little discussion of how Bishop's writing is "painterly." But it's a shame that more of her poetry isn't included in the book. I think that that would make it much nicer (and more integrated into the rest of her work).
(picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture)
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