Analysis Of Billy Collins Introduction To Poetry

In his poem, Introduction to Poetry, Billy Collins uses imagery to present a philosophy on how to experience poetry. His choice of words appeal to the readers senses by creating an emotional experience. In the first stanza, the speaker says “I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide.” When holding up a color slide to the light you can see any colorful image, unlike having a dark square in your hand. The speaker is appealing to the readers visual senses and wants his readers to examine poetry closely and view it as if it was seen through light, to fully visualize the vast meaning of the poem. In the third stanza , “I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out.” When a mouse is in a maze it is

usually for experimentation and the mouse has to try different approaches to discover his way out. He wants readers to think about poetry in various ways and experiment with ideas about the poem to find the meaning of the poem.

In the fourth stanza the speaker says “or walk inside the poem’s room and feel the walls for a light switch.” When first going into a dark room you feel disorientated until you find the switch and you're able to see the light. Going into a dark room is like reading a poem for the first time you feel lost but once you reread the poem and pay close attention to what the poem is really saying you're able to see the emotions and feelings within that poem. In the fifth stanza the speaker says “I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem.” When on a waterski you are swiftly gliding on top of the water. The speaker is saying it is okay to just enjoy the surface of a poem and not go deep into its meaning. He is also saying that while reading a poem your opinion is all that matters as he says “waving at the author’s name on the shore” you must still acknowledge the author but what he feels does not really matter compared to what you feel. The speakers philosophy of experiencing poetry is through

imagery. He wants his readers to look at the poem closely and see through the words to create an emotional experience for the reader.
In her poem, How to Eat a Poem, Eve Merriam uses metaphors to present a philosophy on how to experience poetry. The speaker describes reading a poem as though it is the same as eating a fruit. The speaker says “ Don't be polite. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers.” The speaker wants the reader to dive in and devour the poem without hesitation and not to worry about having manners. The speaker also wants the reader to take in every part of the poem and even “lick the juice that may run down your chin” meaning to enjoy the entire poem, even the little pieces, that may be forgotten about.” The speaker wants the reader to know that the poem is juicy on the inside and is alway available for you to read by saying “it is ready and ripe whenever you are.” The speaker also wants the reader to know the setting is not formal by saying “you do not need a knife or a fork or a spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth.” The speaker is saying you do not need any accessories to read the poem, its just you and the poem. The speaker is saying how the setting of poem is not formal and it can be read anywhere. In the third stanza the speaker says “ For there is no core or stem or rind or pit or seed or skin to throw away.” The speaker is implying that unlike a fruit the poem has no bad pieces inside that need to be thrown away. While reading the poem you have to enjoy every part and can not disregard any of the pieces, because they are all important in understanding the meaning of the poem. The speakers philosophy of experiencing poetry is through metaphors. The speaker compares reading poetry to tasks we are already familiar with so we can get a better understating of the poem. Specifically in this poem she compares a fruit to a poem, to help us understand what it is like to read a poem.
In his poem, Introduction to Poetry, Billy Collins uses imagery to present a philosophy on how to experience poetry.

His choice of words appeal to the readers senses by creating an emotional experience. In the first stanza, the speaker says “I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide.” When holding up a color slide to the light you can see any colorful image, unlike having a dark square in your hand. The speaker is appealing to the readers visual senses and wants his readers to examine poetry closely and view it as if it was seen through light, to fully visualize the vast meaning of the poem. In the third stanza , “I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out.” When a mouse is in a maze it is usually for experimentation and the mouse has to try different approaches to discover his way out. He wants readers to think about poetry in various ways and experiment with ideas about the poem to find the meaning of the poem. In the fourth stanza the speaker says “or walk inside the poem’s room and feel the walls for a light switch.” When first going into a dark room you feel disorientated until you find the switch and you're able to see the light. Going into a dark room is like reading a poem for the first time you feel lost but once you reread the poem and pay close attention to what the poem is really saying you're able to see the emotions and feelings within that poem. In the fifth stanza the speaker says “I want them to waterski

across the surface of a poem.” When on a waterski you are swiftly gliding on top of the water. The speaker is saying it is okay to just enjoy the surface of a poem and not go deep into its meaning. He is also saying that while reading a poem your opinion is all that matters as he says “waving at the author’s name on the shore” you must still acknowledge the author but what he feels does not really matter compared to what you feel. The speakers philosophy of experiencing poetry is through imagery. He wants his readers to look at the poem closely and see through the words to create an emotional experience for the reader.
In her poem, How to Eat a Poem, Eve Merriam uses metaphors to present a philosophy on how to experience poetry. The speaker describes reading a poem as though it is the same as eating a fruit. The speaker says “ Don't be polite. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers.” The speaker wants the reader to dive in and devour the poem without hesitation and not to worry about having manners. The speaker also wants the reader to take in every part of the poem and even “lick the juice that may run down your chin” meaning to enjoy the entire poem, even the little pieces, that may be forgotten about.” The speaker wants the reader to know that the poem is juicy on the inside and is alway available for you to read by saying “it is ready and ripe whenever you are.” The speaker also wants the reader to know the setting is not formal by saying “you do not need a knife or a fork or a spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth.” The speaker is saying you do not need any accessories to read the poem, its just you and the poem. The speaker is saying how the setting of poem is not formal and it can be read anywhere. In the third stanza the speaker says “ For there is no core or stem or rind or pit or seed or skin to throw away.” The speaker is implying that unlike a fruit the poem has no bad pieces inside that need to be thrown away. While reading the poem you have to enjoy every part and can not disregard any of the pieces, because they are all important in understanding the meaning of the poem. The speakers philosophy of experiencing poetry is through metaphors. The speaker compares reading poetry to tasks we are already familiar with so we can get a better understating of the poem. Specifically in this poem she compares a fruit to a poem, to help us understand what it is like to read a poem.