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Billy Collins (22 March 1941 - / New York City)
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(born William James Collins) is an American poet, appointed as Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003. He is a Distinguished Professor at Lehman College of the City University of New York and is the Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Winter Park Institute, Florida. Collins was recognized as a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library (1992) and selected as the New York State Poet for 2004-2006.
Early Years
Collins was born in New York City to William and Katherine Collins. Katherine Collins was a nurse who stopped working to raise the couple's only child. Mrs. Collins had the ability to recite verses on almost any subject, which she often did, ... more »
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please read Wisdom of the Sadhu
http: //www.jesusministries.org/jmwebstore/downloads/SS_001_Wisdom_Of_The_Sadhu.pdf
I just read one of his poem...I just want to say, May the truth reveal to human mankind...There is NO true religion on earth. There is only true relationship.
There’s a certain class of book
I take with me to my pm nap:
worth dipping into; more pleasurable
for taking time over reading to its end;
that leaves no shame when I doze off
and it falls into my lap; a sweet waking dream;
today it’s Billy Collins: ex-
Poet Laureate or should that be
Poet ex-Laureate since he’s still writing
in that laid-back manner that goes with
recliner chairs and a nap that’s natural;
for me, he’s still Laureate, anyway;
and in my dreamy state, I like to indulge
in an undemanding game, best played
between the waking and that dreaming state
which Hindus name as swapna; and I like the name;
(its alternative, prajna, sounds too much like work) :
the game is, nail the character
in just two lines, no more, of Shakes-pa-herian pastiche:
Methinks he hath a wily, wayward charm,
under guise of which he arrows heav’n.
I saw Billy Collins when he came to Boston College and the occasion marked one of the most special moments in my (albeit brief) lifetime. If you get the opportunity to see him, take it!
My favourite poems are 'On Turning Ten' and 'Love'. He is one of the poets I love best.