William Benton received his early training in music and worked as a jazz piano player before becoming a writer. His poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and other magazines. He is the author of eight books of poetry, including Birds, Marmalade, and Backlit, as well as Exchanging Hats, a book on the paintings of Elizabeth Bishop, and Madly, a novel. His most recent books are a reissue of Birds, on its 50th anniversary, from Nightboat Books, and Reliquaries: The Sculpture of Ted Waltz. He lives in New York City.