Of the many poetry collections that Bell has published over the years, the most controversial and widely praised is The Book of the Dead Man (1994). The poems in this book, told in a dry, anesthetized voice, examine life's most basic elements. This book and its sequel, Ardor: The Book of the Dead Man, Volume 2 (1997), are available from Copper Canyon Press.

In the 1980s, Bell and the equally celebrated poet William Stafford corresponded with each other in poetry, each using the poem most recently received as the basis for a responding poem. The result is a book of solid poetry and also an instructive look at the creative process. Segues: A Correspondence in Poetry is out of print but easily available through libraries and used-book outlets. It was published in 1983 by David R. Godine Publishers.

Bell's poetry has been likened to...