Brazil

Brazil is a topic largely explored throughout Bishop's poetry and the Translations the poet has chosen to accompany her work. The country has a much different flavor than the places in the United States and Canada where Bishop spends her youth. The people are poorer, the streets and homes are often ramshackle and crowded. Yet Bishop finds something of interest in Brazil, enough that the poet remained in the country for nearly two decades.

The scenery took hold of the poet and Bishop takes great delight in sharing the vivid imagery of the water and landscapes of the country and its uneven hills and wild jungles. The Amazon holds great interest for Bishop as well, so much so that for a moment the poet thinks that the meeting of the Amazon and Tapajos Rivers are the site of the Garden of Eden. After a few moments Bishop remembers...