drop a mouse into a poem ...

[dragonyphoenix]

For the new year, an adorable poem: 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.

Comments

[feliciacraft.livejournal.com]

I love Billy Collins. He constructs such insightful poems of beauty with such simple words.

Happy new year to you, too!

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Me too! I adore his poems.

Happy New Year to you too!

[snogged.livejournal.com]

This was excellent.
Thanks for sharing.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I love this poem. I'm so glad you did too! ;-)