Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on their way out.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on their way out.
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the house
and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,
and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.
When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton
while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.
42 comments:
Curling up with a good book
Books
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in New York in 1941. Collins is known as being a "serious poet" and "a rare literary figure." For 2 years in a row , 2001 and 2002, Collins was named Poet Laurate Consultant in Poetry. Collins has a Ph. D in Romantic Poetry which he received from the University of California. Collins is a teacher at Lehman College. So far, Collins has published eight books of poetry.
Basic Passage
"I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves, straining in circles of light to find more light until the line of woods becomes a trail of crumbs that we follow across a page of fresh snow;"
This passage shows how a good book makes us feel. A good book holds our attention; it makes us 'hunger' for more. A good book lures us into an unknown and fun world. A good book takes us on an adventure; it lets us escape from our day to day stuff. Once you start reading a good book, you want be able to put it down until you're finished and after you're finished, you will more than likely reread it!
Correlation
I can really relate to this passage. I love to read! I read anything, from articles in encyclopedias, to literary works, to mysteries/ suspenses, to romances, and to biographies/ autobiographies. I love to curl up with a good book; reading soothes me. While I read, I develop a mental picture of the people, places, objects, etc. that the author is describing. Sometimes I can get so deep into a book, I can basically feel or relate to the different emotions that each character goes through. I have many books that I have reread several times because they get better each time I read them.
(1). Identify cause of human suffering- Tragedy
There isn't any human suffering.
(2). How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
I think that the passage is a comedy because it tells of the joy you can get from reading.
(3). Identify the cause of joy or happiness- Comedy
Reading is the cause of joy or happiness.
What Does It Mean?
Introduction To Poetry
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in New York in 1941. He has a Ph.D in Romantic Poetry. He teaches at Lehman College. Collins was Poet Laureate in 2001-2002.
Basic Passage
But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
Correlation
I think this passages shows how most people would rather beat the meaning out of the poem rather than look for it. It is easier to have the meaning told to us than for us to take time and think about the poem. People today are more interested in things with a specific answer, not things that could have many meanings depending on the person. I think it also shows how society has gotten lazy.
1. Identify the Tragedy--
No one wants to take time to think.
2.How could the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
If people would stop to think.
3.Identify the cause of joy or happiness--
The joy is the fact that the poem are there for the people who want to read and enjoy them.
Overlooking
Introduction to Poetry
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in 1941 in New York. Collins received his Ph.D. in Romantic Poetry from the University of California. In 2001and 2002 he was named Poet Laureate Consultant. To this date he has published eight books of poetry, which three of them have surpassed sale records for poetry.
Basic Passage
"But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it."
I think that the stanza is saying to the audience that we are trying to hard to get the true meaning out of the poem. I think that he is trying to tell the audience to just take it as it is and to ask yourself what your feelings and thoughts are after you read it.
Correlation
When I read this stanza it makes me think of my American Literature I class from last semester. We had to do a lot of picking out passages and tell what we thought about it, but the tricky thing was that we had to have the exact meaning of it, because if we gave our thoughts and feeling about the passage the professor wouldn’t accept it. So I still find myself trying to dig to deep into the meaning of things, and I need to try to just go with it and not to over analyze things.
Questions:
1). Identify cause of human suffering- Tragedy
I think that it needs to be enjoyed not over looked for a meaning.
2). How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
If people wouldn’t think to hard about it and just enjoy it and take it as it is.
3). Identify the cause of joy or happiness- Comedy
The joy of this is that he is writing for people to read and enjoy the work.
The importance of a book
Books
Billy Collins
Billy Collins is a rare literary figure. Named Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry in 2001 and 2002. He was born and raised in New York, he recieved his Ph.D in Romantic Poetry from the University of California, Riverside, and embarked on an academic career that led him to teach at Lehman college in 1970.
Bassic Passage
"I picture a figure in the act of reading,
shoes on a desk, head tilted into the wind of a book,
a man in two worlds"
This passage is describing how compelled someone can be in a book, so much so that they are actually putting themselve into the story. Everything else vanishes and the story becomes a reality, and you can't stop reading.
Correlation
I am such a reader, I have loved to read since I was a child. My children also love to read, my son who is in the first grade reads on a third grade level, I have taught both of my kids the importance of reading and learning. These days parents are to quick to let kids play mindless games and forget to teach them how important a book can be. My kids have video games and love watching cartoons, but since I taught them to read and enjoy reading first, they don't over do the video games and T.V. and enjoy a good book just as much as the other activities.
1) the cause of human suffering
I think it is suffering to not know the joy of a good book.
2)How could it be made a comedy
The poem is joyful it describes to people who may not know just how good books can be
3)Identify the cause of happiness
READING
Difficulties
None
Word personification
Books
Billy Collins
Bill Collins was born in New York in the year 1941. He was greatly influenced by the Romantic Movement in literature. He received his Ph.D in Romantic Poetry. He graduated from the University of California. He was made poet consultant twice in 2001 and 2002.
Basic Passage:
"But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it"
This passage to describes how someone may be so in to what they reading that they want everything out of it. It is the feeling of getting caught up in a book its like as if someone would has taken you to another world. I know what this passage is describing because I have been caught in a good book and found myself reading for ours.
correlate:
I can understand what this poem means because I have been caught up in a book. I also don't read to much so I find when I am reading it is for information and not pleasure so I am not getting everything that one is suppose to out of it.
Identify the tragedy:
The tragedy is that people don't take the time to enjoy books anymore they just read it for the information for test taking. They don't read for pleasure.
How could this become a comedy:
This is a comedy because it has an overall optimistic approach to literature.
Identify the cause of happiness:
Reading is the cause of happiness.
Introduction to Poetry
Billy Collins
Collins was born in New York in 1941. He graduated from the University of California and received a Ph.D in Romantic Poetry. He has published 8 books of poetry.
Basic Passage
"Or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch."
I can relate to this passage because at times I cannot understand what the poet is trying to say. It feels as if I'm walking in a dark room trying to find the light switch. Sometimes I can figure it out and find the switch and sometimes I can't.
1) Identify the cause of human suffering- Tragedy
The tragedy is not being able to understand the meaning in a poem.
2) How can this tragedy be turned into a comedy?
Sometimes it is when I get the whole meaning wrong.
3) Identify the cause of joy or happiness
I'm happy when I can figure it out.
“One person in two different worlds”
Author
Billy Collins, a professor at Lehman College, graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with a Ph.D in Romantic Poetry. He was named Poet Laureate Consultant in 2001 and 2002. He is a very serious poet who has achieved a popular status by entertaining listeners of National Public Radio.
Basic Passage
“a man in two worlds, holding the rope of his tie as the suicide of lovers saturates a page”
Correlation
To me this passage is about how people can get so wrapped up in a good book that they feel as if they have been transported to that world. Here is this business man in his tie entering into this world of star-crossed lovers and ill fates. I love to read and I’m one of those readers that once I get into a story I can’t put it down until the end. I get so wrapped up in the characters and their stories that I have to know how it all ends. While physically I am sitting on the couch with a novel, mentally and emotionally I am in a separate world like the business man caught up in the drama of fictional characters. It is like you are in two worlds.
Identify the cause of human suffering—Tragedy
I didn’t really see a cause of human suffering in this poem.
How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
I think it already is a comedy
Identify the cause of joy or happiness—comedy
I think the comedy is the man enjoying himself through literature
Difficulties
I didn’t have any difficulties reading these poems.
Why are people so deep
”Introduction to Poetry”
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in New York in 1941. Although he was raised in New York, he attended and graduated from UC Riverside. He writes basic poetry which is easy to understand. He continues to teach at Lehman College.
Basic Passage:
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.
This passage refers to how Collins feels about the way people interpret poetry. Instead of reading the poem enjoying it and learning from it, the reader tries to dissect the poem and find a deeper meaning.
Correlation:
I can relate to this poem because I am a student. In my first Literature class, my teacher who shall remain nameless always forced us to look as deep as possible to find a deep meaning in everything. After some time this became tiring and wore me out. Sometimes there is not always some really deep meaning to everything. Some pieces should just be read and then the reader should move on.
Difficulties
This poem is very easy to read
(1). Identify cause of human suffering- Tragedy
The feeling of being forced to find some really deep meaning in a story or poem is tragedy enough to me.
(2). How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
I think this passage is a comedy. This poem really struck a chord with me because as a student I feel the exact same way.
(3). Identify the cause of joy or happiness- Comedy
Collins’ feelings on reading poetry is my source of happiness.
Escaping Life
Books
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in New York in 1941. He recieved his P.H.D in Romantic Poetry from the University of California,Riverside.
Collins is known as being a "serious poet" and "a rare literary figure." He was named Poet Lareate Consultant in Poetry in 2001 and 2002. He often entertains poetry lovers with readings of his work on National Public Radio and at venues around the world.
Basic Passage
"I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves,"
"straining in circles of light to find more light"
" until the line of words becomes a trail of crumbs"
"that we follow across a page of fresh snow;
I truly believe in this passage,Collins talks about how when we read a book, we often get lost in that book and forget about the pressures of life. In other words, nothing can touch us mentally, while we are reading a good book. The book just grabs your attention that nothing else really matter at the point in time. You just can't stop. It like a drug that you just won't stop taking. And lastily, you often forget that you are reading a book, your mind makes you believe that you are part of the book's world or adventure.
Correlation
I often read books when I want to forget about a stressful day I might have had. When my head is in a book, nothing else matter. It is like I am in some sort of zone or maybe you can call it the Twilight Zone. I truly believe that I am a part of the intriguing story that I am reading. I just cannot put the book down, until I am done reading it. And when I'm finished I often think about the concept or lesson of the story. As a result, the stress that I had proir to reading to book, is gone.
Questions
Identify the cause of Human Suffering-Tragedy?
There is none
How can the tagedy be turned into a comedy?
I think the passage is already comedy because of the joy of reading a intriguing book.
Identify the cause of joy or happiness?
The feeling you have when you are lost in a good book.
Difficulties
None
Bonus Question from class
Why has the populary of poetry has gone down in the last century?
I think is soceity's advancement in technology. People today care less about poetry, because they have other avenues of entertain such as radio, television, and the almighty computer. People nowadays don't really care about the wonderful joy of poetry.
A Deeper Meaning To Life
Introduction To Poetry
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born and raised in New York. He recieved his Ph.D in romantic poetry from the University of California, Riverside, and embarked on an academic career that brought him to Lehman College. He first gained widespread recognition with his second book, Questions about Angels, which was selected for the National Poetry Series. His subsequent books have gained many awards, including the Beth Hokin Prize.
Basic Passage:
"I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light, like a color slide."
This passage shows that Collins feels very passionate about poetry, but "Poetry" resembles life in this passage. To really look at something in the light is to really take a deep look at it and really try to find the deeper meaning of it. When you look at a color slide under a light, it shows all of it's true colors, kindof like a person. At first you just see a person's physical appearence and gestures, but then once you bring them under the "light" you try to understand them and get to know the "real" person.
Correlation:
I can really relate to this passage. I look back at so many times when I first met someone and know that I have gotten to know them how wrong I really was about them. Life is so deceiving sometimed looking at the outside in, but when you really bring life to the surface than you see all the hardships of life. Poetry is something you really have to think deep about and observe things and apply it to your life. It is so much easier to just go on with life and not think about anything. when in reality you have to eventually think about things to get through life, just like poetry. Everything in life is temporary, but yet we live in such a Temporary world.
1. Identify the cause of himan suffering.
The human suffering is the world we live in and how temporary everything and everyone is.
2. How can this tragedy be turned into a comedy? If Collins made a joke about how deep poetry is and how you have to think so deep with it.
3.Identify the cause of joy or happiness.
The joy of poetry and how much it makes you sit back and think about your own life.
Difficulties:
None
In response to EDNUKE:
I really agree when you say that when you read a good book its like you escape the reality of life. It really is as if your stress is gone after you read because you can apply the principles from the book to your life, almost as if those worries didnt matter anymore, or even seem so minor.
Stop!...think about it
Introduction to Poetry
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in New York in 1941. He was named Poet Laureate in 2001 and 2002. Collins has published 8 books of poetry. He Currently teaches at Lehman College.
Basic Passage:
I want them to water-ski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author’s name on the shore.
Correlation:
This passage reminds me of how some people don’t have the patience to understand or really appreciate poetry. They read a poem once and expect the meaning to just pop in their head without thinking. Poetry is such an elaborate form of writing, sometimes you have examine the meaning of each individual word then determine how it contributes to the line, then the stanza, then the poem as a whole. Without patience, curiosity, or interest, this would unimaginable.
1. Identify the cause of human suffering.
The inability to stop and appreciate something for what it’s really worth
2. How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
If we can develop the patience to appreciate poetry
3. Identify the cause of joy.
There is a solution to the problem
The Stage that is Books
Bio
Billy Collins was born in New York in 1941. He has a Ph.D in Romantic Poetry. He teaches at Lehman College. Collins was Poet Laureate in 2001-2002.
Basic Passage
"From the heart of this dark- evacuated campus, I can hear the library humming in the night, a choir of authors mummuring inside their books together forming a low gigantic, chord of language."
This passage shows that when a person that has a love of books when they enter a library or bookstore the chorus of authors is like there are on a stage except that is book shelves.
Correlation
I can definetely relate to this passage because I have a love for books since I was very young and I do get excited when I go to the bookstore or a library to find something to read for my enjoyment.
1). Identify cause of human suffering- It can be human suffering if the person does not have the love of books or they are illiterate.
(2). How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
It can be turned into a comedy if the person finds enjoyment in reading.
Identify the cause of joy or happiness- The enjoyment of reading is the cause of happiness.
Different Levels
Introduction to Poetry
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born and grew up in New York. He was a very popular poet and recieved his Ph.D in romantic poetry at the University of California. He has wrote many works such as 'Pokerface', 'The Art of Drowning'. Many of his writings have been published in New Yorker, Harpers, and the Paris Review.
Basic Passage:
"I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide"
Correlation:
I think that his love of poetry shows through in this poem that he wants everyone to see it on a different level. This class is a perfect example of this poem and how we stop and read and expaian on many different levels. Just stop and think.
Identify cause of human suffering- Tragedy
There is no tragedy.
How can the tragedy be turned into a comedy?
There is no tragedy. This is only a way to open up your mind and just think deeply.
Identify the cause of joy or happiness- Comedy
It enables you to open your eyes to a different way of thinking and to me makes a more well rounded person.
Response to Partyfoul!:
I agree with you in that we live in such a crazy fast paced world we do not have time or the patience to sit down and read. What a shame.
"Just relax"
introduction to poetry
Billy collins
Billy Collins was born and raised in New york.he reciaved his Ph.D in romantic poetry from the university of california. Collins continues to publish his books of poetry while teaching at lehman college.
basic passage
"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".
This passage sums up the way collins thinks people read poetry. It sounds like he doesnt think people see the beauty in poetry. in this poem prior to this passage, the narrator gives many different analogies to how a poem should be read.
Correlate
i can surely relate with this passage. i for the most part dont like reading poetry, especially when it for a class. my only goal is to find out the meaning. i can imagine how this can be very frustrating to an author who pours his soul into a poem in hopes that the reader will truly enjoy.
comedy: that reading poetry can be a great experience.
tragedy: that people only read poetry for the meaning, but that they dont actually enjoy it.
how can it be changed into a comedy?
that depends on the reader, whether he or she is willing to relax and read poetry without over analyzing.
I had no problems with this poem.
"Looking deeper"
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born in 1941 and was raised in New York. He recieved his Ph.D in romantic poetry from the University of California, Riverside. He is known for turning commonplace and simple things into a profound experience.
Basic Passage
From Books
"I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves, straining in circles of light to find more light until the line of words becomes a trail of crumbs that we follow across a page of fresh snow."
I believe Collins is referring to getting lost in reading in this passage. The specific story I believe he is relating to is Hansel and Gretal.
Correlation
I can relate to this passage because I find myself lost in books all the time. I used to read a lot and I could spend hours and hours just reading one book. After awhile I just didn't see the words on the page but it was almost as if I was watching a movie in my mind. When I would read about someone for instance walking through the city it was like I was there, vividly. I used to like reading more than even watching tv because you can stop to take a break without missing anything and the stories are just as good.
Cause of human suffering The only cause of human suffering I can think of is perhaps people who aren't able to experience that type of reading.
How can tragedy be turned into a comedy I don't think the story is either a tragedy or a comedy.
Identify source of joy or happiness The nostalgic memories of his mother reading to him, his memories of being lost in stories, etc.
Author: Billy Collins
"Confusion"
Billy Collins was named Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry in 2001 and 2002. He loved to entertain poetry lovers by reading of his work on national radio. He was born and raised in New York. He received his PH.D in Romantic Poerty from the University of California. He later moved on to a teaching career at Lechman College in 1970.
Passage:
"But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it"
This passage is about people trying to read poems and not getting the true meaning or the hidden messages of the poem, and a lot of frustration is in it because most poems has more that meets the eye. The meaning is not handed to us on a silver platter for us clearly to see and understand. We have to put some thought in to it.
Correlation:
I can definitely relate to this passage because I am one of those who has trouble trying to find the meaning of certain poems. I have to read it a few times to start to understand what each one means. Eventually it does come to me after awhile looking at it and thinking about it. Hopefully I am not off about this one either.
1)There is any human suffering.
2) Couldn't find any comedy in it.
3)There is some joy in it.
Stop Trying to Hack into My Poem!
Introduction To Poetry
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born and raised in New York, he recieved his Ph.D in Romantic Poetry from the University of California. Collins was also named Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry in 2001 and 2002. Now he teaches at Lehman College and he's been there since 1970.
Basic Passage
"I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide... But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with a rope and torture a confession out of it."
In this passage I understand what he means by reading a poem and trying to figure out what the writer is thinking or feeling when they wrote it and why they wrote it. He wants people to look at poetry as entertainment and for your personal pleasure, not trying to hack into its secret code.
Correlation:
I can relate to this poem because I have been in classes where the teacher wants us find out what the author was really feeling when they were writing the poem. I honestly don't know or care. I always took poetry to be for entertainment purposes only. I guess I'm just not an "in depth" type of person but I like to listen to poetry and move on. So I think Collins has a very valid point.
Identify Human Suffering:
No humans suffering.
How could the tragedy be turned into a comedy?:
No Tragedy
The cause of joy and happiness:
Loving the poem insted of hacking into the poem.
Difficulty:
I had no difficulties.
“Thoughts are UNCONTROLABLE”
Billy Collins
Billy was born and raised in New York. He received his PhD in Romantic Poetry from the University of California. Poetry lovers are usually entertained with readings of his work on National Public Radio and at venues around the world. Billy Collins was a rare literary figure, who achieved a wide range of popular success in his life time.
Basic Passage:
“The neighbors' dog will not stop barking. He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house. They must switch him on their way out.”
Correlation:
In this passage I get the feeling the character is getting very agitated with the dog’s constant barking. He feels that if he could shoot the dog he definitely would. I can relate to this because I certainly get very irritated about some things I can not control. Sometimes small or big things in life can just drive a person to the point where crazy thoughts can pop up in the mind. For example, I stay in a small town where the houses where built kind of close together, and when some of my neighbors get up like before daylight while others trying to sleep to cut grass it drives me crazy. I get the feeling of wanting to beat their lawnmower with a sledgehammer. I would never actually destroy someone else’s belongings on purpose, but sometimes my thoughts take over.
Human Suffering—is that the character is going crazy about the constant barking of the dog.
How can tragedy be turn into comedy—it turned into a comedy itself with the barking being in the music.
Joy or Happiness—the character realized how to control the barking.
response to Pinky Belle
I agree that a shelve of books is like a stage and there are a chorus of authors. Books can give you an escape from the pearls of reality. It is like you have so many worlds to choose from when looking at a book shelf in a particular library.
Less is more
Winter Syntax
Billy Collins
Billy Collins is an American poet and was named Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry in 2001 and 2002. He graduated from the University of California, Riverside, and went on to become a professor at Lehman College. His workd has been compared to Robert Frost. In his works, he uses humor and speaks out against over-interpretation of poems.
Basic Passage:
"But the traveller persists in his misery, struggling all night through the deepening snow, leaving a faint alphabet of bootprints on the white hills and white floors of valleys, a message for field mice and passing cows."
This passage describes how poets will overwork their words and try too hard to make meaning of things that are simple. Also, the last sentence of the passage seems to me like he is trying to say after a poet puts so much work into one sentence, the reader doesn't care that much anyway.
Correlation:
I can relate to this in a sense because most poems I read are wordy and contain lots of meanings. Just one sentence is so complex, like it took years just to write that one sentence. I, myself, hardly ever understand what a sentence in a poem really means, and I never care that much about it to delve into it. I usually have to have someone else explain it to me.
Identify the tragedy:
Poets try too hard to make their words have meaning.
How can tragedy be turned into a comedy?:
If everyone reading the poems actually appreciated the effort and meanings behind the poems.
Identify the cause of joy or happinness:
Words can make even the dullest thing seem lively.
Difficulties:
I wasn't sure if I was taking the right meaning from the poem.
I am commenting on nicken's response:
I agree with nicken's statement:"...Everything else vanishes and the story becomes reality, and you can't stop reading." I can relate to nicken's statement because whenever I read a book, I get so deep into it, that I start to relax and forget about my problems; and I have a very hard time putting the book down.
Reason Number Two
Billy Collins
Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House
I imagine Billy Collins spending a lot of time in the New York library. I would have. Collins grew up in New York, and was named Poet Laureate in 2001. Collins sees the poet as the man stopping by the woods. The poet should find inspiration anywhere from anything.
Basic Passage:
“and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.”
Correlation:
I thought the visual imagery of this section is great! I see a large dog like a mastiff or rottweiler in a tuxedo shirt, jacket, and cummerbund sitting on a chair with sheet music surrounded by an orchestra. It is like all the times Tom wanted to conduct or play and Jerry just messed him up. The barking dog can also be like people who talk constantly. I don’t know why, maybe to hear the sound of their own voice. While it annoys the hell out of me, I try to find either a lesson or something funny about the situation. That is reason number two why I don’t own a gun.
Tragedy- the neighbor must suffer the dog.
Comedy- Beethoven in the Bark
Transformation to Comedy- Visual Image of a dog in a tux.
comment on pinky belle and others,
i agree. libraries feel like a holy place. people stay quiet in church, theaters, and libraries. my imagination makes me think each book is calling for my attention. authors in libraries remind me of artists seeking my patornage.
Response to Jason:
I agree with you that the passage refers to how Collins feels about the way people interpret poetry. I also think that people need to enjoy the poem instead of trying to find a deeper meaning.
In response to Almond Joy
What you wrote is probably how a lot of people feel. It takes a different level of thought to understand poetry. There are creative people and then there are analytical people. I think some people get so caught in poetry though just trying to find a "meaning" that they don't really enjoy it anymore. If you don't enjoy poetry its going to be harder to find the meaning, in my opinion.
This is a response to bham615
I completly agree with the comment that books can trasport you into a different world, I feel the same way when I read a good book. I get so involved I can actually visualize what's happening, almost as if I were watching it on T.V.
This is a comment to Rachel
I agree with you that if we would try to enjoy things we would be better at it. I think I try to hard in my class and if I would try to enjoy them I would do better.
Out of your world
Books
Billy Collins
Billy Collins was born and rasied in New York and recieved his Ph.D in Romantic Poetry from the University of California.He is a rare literary figure considering he has achieved wide-ranging popularity in his life time.
Basic Passage
I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves, straining in circles of light to find more light until the lines of words become a trail of crumbs that we follow across a page of fresh snow:
In this passage Collins describes reading as a mental escape from your everday life. Away from any of that days troubles , you become wrapped up in a fantasy world.
Correlation
Now even though I am not a huge fan of reading all the time . I can relate to the passion he feels for it because there have been a few books that I just could not put down the story was just to engrossing, but for me it takes a really great piece to hook me.
1 There is no tragedy
2. Its comedy comes from the fact that some people have lost the ablity to use their imaginations and get lost in another world as a form of release.
3 The joy is how well Collins paints a adventure through reading
Response to Jag2419:
I like your correlation with this passage. I agree with the fact that there are many things in life that get on our last nerve, and there is nothing we can do about it. For example, for me, I HATE it when I'm driving down the street and a car decides to jump in front of me and drive slow! I absolutly hate it!! But I have to put up with it until I can get in the next lane a pass them. LOL! I can relate to this guy and how the dogs could really get on his nerves and the only way to solve the problem is to deal with it.
Comment for Nicken
I agree with you that if the story is goog than you can lose your-self in it. Some times even the noises around you fade away. Sometimes its just nice to use escape from your world and be lost in the book.Of coures this takes imagination which may people lose as they age.
Response to PinkyBelle
Its always good to hear about people getting into reading.
Response to jag2419:
I can relate to what he was saying that " small or big things in life can just drive a person to the point where crazy thoughts can pop up in the mind", because I am human and like everyone else certain things in this world just flat makes me mad or annoyed. For instance: Say you are traveling down the interstate going about 70 mph and say it is 5:00 traffic. You are traveling down the interstate and the car in front of you slams on the break for no reason. There was nobody in of them front slamming on there breaks but they do it I guess to go slower, but they do it so abruptly. For some reason that makes me furious. Sometimes I do want to just run in the back of them but of course I am not that crazy or stupid, and I don't want hurt anyone. No one should slam on the breaks on the interstate unless you have to. It could cause an accident.
In response to randy:
I agree with you a lot of people just like to label something rather than look for a deeper meaning. Most of them are just looking for an easier way out of having to do something. Our society has become very lazy and this is proof.
This is a comment to jodgers:
I agree with your comment. Things in life can be so difficult. I think most people have misjudged someone or something rather they can honestly admit it or not. I like how you compare poetry and life together. I would have never thought of those two things having something in common. Both is such a deep concept that we should all take a deeper look at.
Comment for moonlight:
I can relate to your correlation. I'm not a huge fan of reading either, but sometimes i'll end up reading something that catches my attention and it keeps me enthrawled in it for hours. And it really is relaxing, like an escape just for those few hours.
in response to gtgirl
intro to poetry
i agree with you about this poem. i think your passage really does show his passion for poetry, and how he wishes the reader would read it the same way. our class discussion are definently a good example of this. we really do look at poems in all "lights".
Comment on celia Loy.
I can definitely relate what Celia Lay said about this passage. This passage does describe how a good book can catch your attention and not let go. I have read books that were really good and you didn't want to stop reading them once you started. A good book can make you want to read it more and more.
In response to gtgirl
I agree with what you said about poetry. Collins conveys his love of poetry by talking about his fustrations with students that don't want to find their own interpreting. He understands how poetry can't be understood by just looking at the surface.
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