Notable Elements of Billy Collins' Poems

#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.