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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