You Can’t Have It All: Poem by Barbara Ras, Paintings by Terrell James

Poetry and painting have enjoyed a long life together, with artists like Cy Twombly and Joan Mitchell using poetry in their works and poets like John Ashbery and Ron Padgett working closely with visual artists. The tradition of artists and poets collaborating continues in You Can’t Have It All.

This elegant and intimate book presents Ras’s poem ＂You Can’t Have It All,＂ which has enjoyed a long life of appreciation by many fans worldwide. Enthusiastic readers, writers, workshop leaders, Buddhist practitioners, and poetry therapists have used the poem to mark occasions, teach classes, and inspire students.

Paintings by Terrell James elevate the lines of the poem to a new level of resonance. She often turns to poetry for inspiration in her studio. For James, a poem reflects the knowledge from the entire life of the poet, and she often uses lines from poems as titles for artworks.

Given the wide appeal and the insightful depth of the work by both of these artists, it’s no wonder they found one another for this radiant collaboration.

Terrell James is a painter and educator. She has worked for the Smithsonian Institution and Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Her work has been included in nine book publications including, most recently, 4 Paintings: Terrell James. She is the recipient of numerous awards, residencies, and fellowships and she is widely collected and represented in galleries. She lives in Houston, Texas.