Julia Randall (1923-2005) was one of America's purest and most original lyric poets. She published seven books of poetry, culminating in
The Path to Fairview: New and Selected Poems (LSU, 1992); among her many awards were two NEA Fellowships, the Poetry Society's Shelley Award (1980) and The Poet's Prize (1988). Her poem "To a Goldfinch" was found on her desk after her death, and is, as far as can be known, the last poem she completed.