Barbara Guest was an American poet and writer, known for her contributions to the avant-garde literary movement. Born on July 6, 1920, in Birmingham, Alabama, she became a prominent figure in the New York School of poets, which included notable writers like Frank O'Hara and John Ashbery. Guest's work often explored themes of identity, perception, and the interplay between language and reality. Throughout her career, Guest published several poetry collections, including "The Location of Things" and "The Red Gaze." She was also a visual artist and wrote essays on art and literature. Guest received numerous awards for her work, including the Poetry Society of America Award and the William Carlos Williams Award. She passed away on February 15, 2006.