The Trouble With Poetry
Billy Collins' poetry is characterized by a sense of whimsy, restraint, and wit. With his distinct style and approachable language, America's two-term Poet Laureate has opened the door to poetry for a large number of individuals who might otherwise be shut out. Collins' poems are full of mischief, comedy, and irony, just like the title of the collection.
Collins demonstrates that excellent poetry does not have to be cryptic or incomprehensible via plain language, traits that are arguably the underlying problem with most "serious" poetry.
Collins examines boyhood, jazz, love, the passage of time, and, of course, writing—themes familiar to Collins's admirers but rendered fresh here—in this bright new collection, his first in three years. Billy Collins' poetry is a window through which we observe our life as if for the first time. It is beautiful, hilarious, and incredibly empathic.
