#1. Use of
metaphor in “Osso Buco.”
“But
tonight, the lion of contentment / has placed a warm, heavy paw on my
chest.” (“Osso Buco”, 17-18)
This metaphor is
possibly one of Collins' finest from the five poems listed.
The depiction of
contentment as the majestic king of the beasts not only fits with the
other comparisons to African culture (such as “...maybe even the
chief's favorite son.” “Litany”, line 29), it also declares the
importance of the feeling that Collins holds. By using the lion as a
metaphor, it shows that he considers contentment to be rare and
noble, and to have it in close proximity to you is a truly scarce and
humbling experience.
But,
the line also shows another aspect that furthers this
already-stirring mental image. The lion is not only sitting close to
him, the poem actually seems to show the lion as
standing guard
over the speaker; showing how firmly the author trusts in his
contentment to keep him safe. This level of trust reflects how safe
contentment makes him feel; as safe as a man being watched over by a
friendly lion.
#2. Sensory
Imagery in “Litany”
This
love poem by Billy Collins is full of many different sensory imagery
sentences, all of which help build towards the final total that is
his lover. There are many different such instances of this component
of poetry, with some of the finest including “You are the dew on
the morning grass,” (“Litany”, 4), and “I am the moon in the
trees” (“Litany”, 25). Line 4 provides a vivid glimpse of a
misty morning, just before the sun begins to rise over a field of
moist grass and meadowflowers, and the scent of the dew is almost
palpable. These simple sentences, crafted together into a poem that
praises the lover while pointing out her bad qualities and his good
qualities, help to create a beautiful tapestry of pictures that blend
together in the imagination like the colors of a sunset in the sky.
Each one is meaningful in itself, but it is the combination of them
that creates the magical mental scene, and the beauty that is in it.
