Introduction To Poetry Poem by Billy Collins
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.
DEAR BILLY COLLINS Where’s the one where you crawl under skin pierce the bad man’s heart get dirty with the homeless save the world from annihilation? You waterski and wave, dropp a mouse and feel for a switch, press an ear and see the light. Superman, yes! Or is it Clark Kent? I see you working at the Planet reclined in your favorite chair more powerful than a locomotive. Feel you forming your next word, bending steal with bare hands. But, where’s the one that speaks of pain, of fear, of vice and sin? I want to be your neighbor on Lois Lane lined with elm trees and picket fence. Very truly yours, Bob Beers (Sorry, the system insists on placing an extra p in drop.)
A poem is always there waiting to be caught, right out of thin air. It can't be sought- after, and never, ever bought.
His poem was touching, makes you feel different ways about the poem.
A poem is ambiguous.It means several things. The poet wants the reader to go deep into a poem to understand it and at the same time to enjoy it. He expects a reader not to become too critical of a poem and not to force a meaning out it from his own view point.
Bill's imagination soars in contemplation. That is what one has to do to enjoy a poem, but it has to come with one's own experience. Following Bill's instruction won't do a thing. I am writing this with my own recent experience with one simple ancient word- OUM not even the whole poem.
Most precious Introduction to POETRY, dear Professor Collins, my myriad points for this poem full of humor and education
Excellent poem presented in full flavour of great success in all its brilliance, how many times I have read this, dear Professor Collins, I have constantly greatest pleasure, CONGRATS being chosen again by Poem Hunter and Team
THREE: CONGRATULATIONS dear Professor Collins, being chosen by PoemHunter And Team as The Modern Poem Of The Day, on this International Women's Day. Hooray!
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8/5/2026 7:01:44 PM # rel_20260803T153344Z_4267e77
Literally, Billy Collins informs his readers to read poetry for enjoyment instead of dissecting it and trying to figure out a deeper meaning. Ironically, as a reader, I am still trying to dissect his poem. I realized that the word 'poem' can be substituted with the word 'snake' which completely makes sense. Collins uses phrases such as 'I dropp a mouse into the poem' and ' I want them to waterski across the surface of the poem' which alludes to the characteristics of a snake. Does anybody agree?