Another Billy Collins poem

["J'AIMIE FOUST" <jfoust@MUM.NERIC.ORG>]

Since many of you responded that you enjoyed "Schoolsville" by Billy
Collins, I thought I'd post another.  Please share with English teachers and
students alike - it's hard to tell to whom he is referring!?

"Introduction to Poetry"

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.


Enjoy!  - Jaime

J'aime L. Foust, Librarian
Queensbury HS Library (9-12)
409 Aviation Rd
Queensbury, NY
Ph (518) 793-8811 x325, Fax (518) 742-6045
jfoust@mum.neric.org