Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Importance of Billy Collins' Poetry
Billy Collins’ work allows readers to process things in new ways and think about them more than they ever have before. His writing allows us to see into his very thinking, whether it is him sitting in his kitchen analyzing the different objects before him, or him reciting poetry and finding new meanings beyond for what it was meant. Collins’ use of freestyle writing gives the reader a look into his flowing thought process, and his imagination and descriptions teach us how to become more creative thinkers ourselves. In an interview, Billy Collins reflects on the character he creates that narrates his poems.
“The character I invented, if I had to describe him, is probably an updating of a character you find strolling through the pages of English Romantic poetry. He is a daydreamer, obviously unemployed, plenty of time on his hands, spends a lot of time by himself, and has an unhealthy fascination with his thinking process, his own speculations and fantasies.” (Joel Whitney. “A Brisk Walk”. Academy of American Poets. https://www.poets.org/poetsorg. Feb. 10, 2016.)
I can personally connect with what he says here because I too like to spend time alone, and I have a fascination with processing my thoughts. I like to spend time writing poetry, letters, and journals to put down my emotions on paper that are otherwise confusing to me. I also tend to look at objects more creatively than most people, and I can really appreciate and connect with his poetry in general. I don’t have a full-time job as of now either (because I am a full-time student), and I find myself spending my free time thinking rather than out doing something.
The Life of Billy Collins
Growing up as a single child in a humble, lower-class home, Billy Collins' imagination was first stimulated by his mother. She encouraged his creativity and inspired his love of words from a very young age. At age 12, he had already written his first poem, and he "joined the staff of his literary magazine" a short time later (Encyclopedia). He only began publishing his writings at age 40, but his influence on the world of poetry has been profound none the less. He was announced as "the most popular poet in America" in an article by the New York Times, and received other prestigious awards and honors, such as being asked to write a poem in memory of the 9/11 attacks read in Congress for its one-year anniversary (The Poetry Foundation). He is known for his use of free verse in his works, and has informed interviewers his successful poems come naturally, most written in one sitting in a span of 20-40 minutes. He gives deep and humorous insight into deep and serious topics.
Biography
(Academy of American Poets. https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/text/brisk-walk-billy-collins-conversation
Feb. 10, 2016.)
Feb. 10, 2016.)
(Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Collins. Feb. 9, 2016.)
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