If you write a letter of resignation or something with an agenda, you're simply using a pen to record what you have thought out. In a poem, the pen is more like a flashlight, a Geiger counter, or one of those metal detectors that people walk around beaches with. Billy Collins agendumbeachcounter share on social
I find a lot of poetry very disappointing, but I do have poets that I go back to. One book of poetry that I'd like to mention is 'The Exchange' by Sophie Cabot Black. Her poems are difficult without being too difficult. Billy Collins backblackbook share on social
I know my voice has a limited range of motion; I don't write dramatic monologues and pretend to be other people. But so far, my voice is broad enough to accommodate most of what I want to put into my poetry. I like my persona; I often wish I were him and not me. Billy Collins accommodatebroaddramatic share on social
Attempts to put my poems to music have had disastrous results in all cases. And the poem, if it's written with the ear, already has been set to its own verbal music as it was composed. Billy Collins attemptcasecompose Change image and share on social
There are interesting forms of difficulty, and there are unprofitable forms of difficulty. I mean, I enjoy some difficult poetry, but some of it is impenetrable and I actually wouldn't want to penetrate it if I could, perhaps. Billy Collins difficultdifficultyenjoy share on social
I don't think I've ever written a poem whose intention was just to be funny. I've written poems that start out funny and often shift into something more serious. Billy Collins funnyhaveintention Change image and share on social
The obituaries shot up to the top of my list when I discovered Robert McG. Thomas, the 'Times' obit writer who redesigned its traditional form and added a measure of stylistic elegance. Billy Collins adddiscoverelegance Change image and share on social
I'll listen to anything authentic whether it's bluegrass or gospel or blues. Billy Collins authenticbluebluegrass Change image and share on social
When I write, I'm not trying to be funny. It's the way I look at the world. Billy Collins funnyworldwrite Change image and share on social
I'm trying to write poems that involve beginning at a known place, and ending up at a slightly different place. I'm trying to take a little journey from one place to another, and it's usually from a realistic place, to a place in the imagination. Billy Collins beginendimagination share on social