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Poetry Friday is with Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe
This week I received an email from Heidi Mordhorst promoting a celebration of Billy Collins for this Poetry Friday roundup. Billy Collins’ birthday is March 22. He will be 76.
I’ve actually had the privilege to meet Billy Collins at the Dodge Poetry Festival in the fall of 2008. I took a picture with him that I cannot find. I remember his humor most of all. The tone of his voice, almost monotone, enhances the hilarity of his poems.
I’m not sure how many books I have of Billy Collins’ poetry, at least 5. At Christmas, I had a Barnes and Noble gift card, so I bought the latest The Rain in Portugal. I read about half of it and put it down after I heard an interview with him that made me mad.
I imagine all poets to be gentle, loving souls. If Billy Collins is being himself in interviews, and I would assume he is, he is quite arrogant. He insulted us amateur poets as if we shouldn’t even try to write. I decided to reject his opinion and continue to write poetry. In fact I’ve written a few poems “after Billy Collins.” So to appease my injured pride and to reject his lofty opinion, I am not posting his poetry, but my own.
Our Ship
after Billy Collins, Litany
We are all on this ship together
whether or not it sails.
We are side by side
like the freckles on your mother’s face.
We are closer
than the love bugs on the windshield.You, and I, and he, and she.
We are not like the blown away balloons
at the 3 year old’s birthday party.
We are not the shavings of wood mulching the flower bed.No, we are this way, that way,
you know what I mean,
intertwined like the vines of wisteria,
joined and connected, tumbling and reaching.Give me your hand.
I will give you mine.
Let’s go on this voyage together.–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved.
Burst into Spring
after Billy Collins, Today
If ever there was a spring day so perfect,
so stirred up by a cool crisp windthat you wanted to breathe more often
to taste the wisteria blossoms,and throw open all the doors,
lift them clear off the hinges,a day so bright the pink azaleas
pop open like a birthday balloon bouquet,seemed so delightful that you felt like
running naked among them,released from all inhibitions taking flight
outstretched arms playing airplane,so you could fly on steady wings
balanced for lift and drinking nectar,yes, you can imagine it,
today is just that kind of day.–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
Reflections on the Teche 
When I read your poetry I can see a world of acceptance. It always amazes me that some people are let out in public. It is like they are two people the one that writes and the one that speaks. I usually want to meet the one that writes. I don’t know the other person who is talking.
I’m not sure all poets are loving souls (See: Charles Bukowski) but there is something tender beneath the surface most of the time that words rise to the surface. Sorry I haven’t been visiting you here lately …
Kevin
Thanks, Kevin. Tender beneath the surface certainly comes through in his poems.
I am glad you decided “to appease my injured pride and to reject his lofty opinion” and gift us with another glorious Margaret Simon poem. We are all the richer for it, this Poetry Friday.
Both poems resonate. I like the breathlessness each poem evokes as I read. As if the hurry up of language was more necessity than breath.
Lovely, Margaret.
Gorgeous poems, in lieu of BC’s work, I believe you can place yourself right there in that ring of poets, Margaret. Perhaps he had received his own rejection of some sort & was taking it out on the rest of the “poetic” world. Who knows why people say what they say? Regardless of your motvation, I love what you’ve given us today. “so stirred up by a cool crisp wind” is wonderful.
Linda, I didn’t think about this sympathetic view at the time. I think if ever I talked to Terry Gross or Krista Tippett, I would be completely tongue-tied. Thanks for your supportive comments.
I remember meeting a successful, popular children’s author and being absolutely shocked by how arrogant and mean-spirited they were in their interview! Sometimes fame, it seems, can go to your head! On the other hand, everyone has off days and grumpy days, and maybe people are completely different on other days, when they’re not being interviewed! Who knows? Either way, to heck with anyone who’s dismissive of amateurs – everyone has to start somewhere, and few of us are born famous! 😉
Don’t get me started! Of course, for the most part authors are my heroes.
Well, now that he mentions it, I do wonder why we let children write poetry at all. It isn’t very good. It certainly is not as well structured, impeccably spelled and creatively thought out as my writing is. Yeah, they should stop. We should take their pencils. We shouldn’t let them try this until they can do it. (Ha! That’s why my son actually said about riding a bike when he was 5…he wasn’t going to ride it until he could do it!)
I’m so glad you put your own writing here today. I hope he really isn’t grumpy ALL the time. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that perhaps he just wasn’t feeling well at that moment, and perhaps he regrets what he said. After all, it really doesn’t make sense.
Your reaction, Donna, is how I reacted because I do teach my little poets to write and tell them daily that they are good at it and that they are poets. You know, Billy Collins can’t be all perfect. Of course, IMO Mary Oliver is perfect.
Thanks for reading.
I have that image too, that poets are gentle, loving souls…enter Maya Angelou here. It has been kind of fun today to the feisty side of Margaret! 🙂
…to SEE the feisty side…
Go, Margaret! Your poems are absolutely wonderful. I especially love Burst into Spring. This image is one of my favorites: “a day so bright the pink azaleas
pop open like a birthday balloon bouquet.”
Enjoyed your poems, Margaret! “Our ship” is so warm and loving. I try not to begrudge authors/poets/other artists their personality problems if I love their work, so I can accept the gift of what they have given. (I saw a headline today that said Dr. Seuss had issues, and honestly, I don’t want to know.) I would hate to think that I needed to go through an anthology and sort through their personalities to decide what to read. (I know that’s not what you’re saying. The Dr. Seuss thing stressed me out.) xo
I saw that, too, about Dr. Seuss. The genius of Billy Collins work is not tainted by his ego. Maybe even enhanced by it. I just want my authors to love me, too.
Margaret, it is sad that you felt an elitist tone in Collins’ voice but good for you that you did not back down. We are rewarded by your dedication to the art of writing.
I love Donna’s comment. And your gorgeous poem. That said, we can all have our opinions. So we’ll allow Billy his. He is a gift in his own way. Not just his words, but the words he inspired in you. I believe this is my favorite line: “like the freckles on your mother’s face.” What a joy it is to be so close and connected.
So disappointing (though not all that surprising, I suppose) to hear about BC’s arrogance. No, he is not the first with a less than perfect personality/outlook (Seuss, yes, and also Shel Silverstein). But like Tabatha said, sometimes we begrudgingly turn a blind eye to the person in order to appreciate their work. I think you did that perfectly, Margaret, in the way you used Collins’ work as a diving board. You are better off for having rejected his opinion and written these poems that shine in their own right! Brava!
Great honesty, Margaret! I too have been disappointed by some writers I almost idolized and found I couldn’t read them the same way any more. Like Tabatha said, “I don’t want to know.” I love your feistiness in writing back and calling them poems “after Billy Collins.” (Why can’t our heroes be perfect?)
And enjoyed your poems, especially these lines:
“a day so bright the pink azaleas
pop open like a birthday balloon bouquet,”
Yes, I am eagerly awaiting such a day!
These are beautiful, metaphorical poems, Margaret, thanks for sharing them! I loved the sense of play and inhibitions in many of your lines, “outstretched arms playing airplane.” I feel the same way about other artists, such as Wagner, he’s not living so it makes it a step easier; his music is wonderful his politics atrocious.
Well done, Margaret! The imagery in “Burst into Spring” is gorgeous, especially those pink azaleas popping open. And I really love the tenderness and extended metaphor of “Our Ship.” Hand in hand, we are on this “voyage together.”
Margaret, I love it that you got mad and stopped reading…and then started writing. After all the Billy-love this weekend it’s refreshing to stop and think about the human behind the voice, just like a splash of cold wave up your legs is refreshing–AND we don’t have to discount the poems even if we’re offended by the poet.
Both of your offerings manage to channel the flavor of Billy’s work but show your own writer’s voice in its very best light: “throw open all the doors,
lift them clear off the hinges”.
Hi Margaret, I love your ownership of Billy, two freckles. I am not surprised to hear what he says — he is often very negative toward other poets and writers. As for how he feels about amateurs — we all bring something unique to the table. He doesn’t speak for me. I read one of his poems in Ballistics and thought No. No. You don’t speak for me. All our voices are needed. I like that you shared this story. Public figures need to use their fame for good, not for soul-crushing others.