PoemHunter.com

Introduction To Poetry by Billy Collins

10/12/2008 12:39:02 AM
Home Poets Poems Lyrics Quotations Music Forum Search Member Area Poetry E-Books Sites Mini Quiz
 

POEMS

LYRICS

MUSIC

QUOTATIONS

SEARCH

   
Billy Collins
   Poems  Comments  More Info  Stats 

 
 
<< prev. poem Poems by Billy Collins: 15 / 41 next poem >>
  
 
Introduction To Poetry
 
  I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Billy Collins


Read poems about / on: poem, light, poetry

#76
in Top500
 

User Rating:

9.0 /10
(88 votes)



 
Comments about this poem (Introduction To Poetry by Billy Collins)  more comments >>
Click here to write your comments about this poem (Introduction To Poetry by Billy Collins)
 
Terrence Loth (10/2/2008 4:01:00 PM)
Just discovered Billy Collins today! He himself holds up an idea like a multifaceted crystal and as it rotates he translates the light into such evocative and accessable poetry. Wonderful.
Robert Howard (5/20/2008 10:22:00 PM)
...tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

Literary analysis in a nutshell!

Read all 11 comments >>
People who read Billy Collins also read: Classic poets in PoemHunter.Com:

The complete list >>

Lyrics

The complete list >>

QuickPoll
Overall, how would you rate our website?
Very good
Rather good
Fair
Rather poor
Very poor

 Search in the World Poetry Database => 

 Search:   in:      tips
Hide the search box!

E-MAIL THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND - Found this page interesting? Recommend it to your friend! 
 Your E-mail:  
 Friend's Email:  
   
Your
Message:

 

(c) Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge..  About Us | Copyright notice | Privacy statement | Help
10/12/2008 12:39:02 AM. You Are Here: Introduction To Poetry by Billy Collins

Home | Poets | Poems | Lyrics | Music | Quotations | Forum | Search | Random Poem | Free Poetry eBooks | Contests | Sites |
Submit a Poem | Manage Your Poems | Contact Us

Christmas Poems | Love Poems | Pablo Neruda | Death Poems | Sad Poems | Birthday Poems | Wedding Poems | Annabel Lee | Sorry Poems | Winter Poems