So an idea struck me about what I can do with this blog. I can begin to discuss poetry. Whether you hate poetry, are new to poetry, love poetry, teach poetry, or write poetry, I think this can be for you. Today we will start with a nice, digestible chunk. Something simple, moving, and a little funny. This is from Billy Collins. He was Poet Laureate in the United States from 2001 to 2003. He is one of my all time favorites. His style is very accessible, beautiful, and funny. He loves language and has a lot of fun with it. Read the poem, then listen to it with the video, then read the poem again, that is all I ask of you. Thank you ,

Rory

Introduction to Poetry

BY BILLY COLLINS

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.