Evaluation of Billy Collins

              When going through the list of famous poets, many names come to mind. For some, it is Shakespeare, and his love poems and plays. For others, it is the likes of Robert Frost, and his many works of all varieties. But, chances are that if famous poets are being discussed, Billy Collins will undoubtedly be mentioned, and rightfully so; his soft and observant style, characterized by his gentle mixture of humor and depth, are deserving of their place among such great poets.

Billy Collins proves time and again through his poems that he can evoke a wide variety of emotions.

Poems such as “Questions About Angels” and “Nostalgia” evoke a wistful feeling, and begin in the reader a pondering of events- both real and hypothetical- while others such as “Litany” cause the reader to to chuckle at some of the metaphors used for the two lovers, while appreciating the beautiful work of art that the poem creates.

                Billy Collins is a skilled poet, and always has a general idea of what he must do to achieve the finished poem he desires. Such a knowledge is demonstrated in the use of nonviolent metaphors in “Building With Its Face Blown Off”. The metaphors for the destroyed apartment, such as the dollhouse and the movie theater, adhere to the the words he said he took to heart before writing the poem: “As Chekhov put it, if you want to get the reader emotionally involved, write cold.” (“On 'Building With Its Face Blown Off': Michael Myer Interviews Billy Collins”, Bedford, p. 883). Collins prefers to stimulate a new emotion in his readers by offering none, as opposed to offering an existing feeling. This allows the readers to find their own personal meanings and emotions in the verses he has written. I personally found the metaphors in “Building With Its Face Blown Off” really enabled me to connect emotionally to his poem with a feeling of sadness and pondering that felt predetermined, yet ambiguous. I have never had this feeling before in all of the poetry I have read, and it is a feeling of sadness/somberness that can only be described as both logical and paradoxical.

His formal grammar is also a major player in the game that is my connection to the poem. The use of formal English and (mostly) proper punctuation enables me to relate to and understand the material that I am reading, making for a more enjoyable experience overall. But, he does not go so far as to use flowery language. Collins instead creates poetry that is simple in grammar and verse, yet appeals to the imagination in a way that is truly unique, and this style of writing appeals to many different readers. However, his gentle and seemingly simplistic use of the English language does not make his poems any less adventurous. He ponders and challenges the traditional, such as heaven and angels through his thoughts and questions in “Questions About Angels.”

In summary, if you enjoy poems that possess a masterful, yet simple use of metaphors, sensory imagery, and the English language as a whole, then this poet's soft, perceptive, and occasionally humorous poems are for you.