Divorce Billy Collins Analysis

In the poem, “Divorce,” by Billy Collins is only four lines and is incredibly short, but this doesn’t mean this poem has no value within it. It was written in 2008, which is when the great recession was happening. This poem symbolizes the tragedy of a failing relationship between two partners and the impact the recession had on these relationships. This will be an essay on the analyzation of the poem, “Divorce,” by Mr. Collins.
This poem was not written in 2008 coincidently, right when the recession was happening Mr. Collins did this on purpose to signify the impact that the recession had on the divorcements in 2008. The first line of the poem, “Once, two spoons in bed,” this signifies the couple in the bed (Collins 1). This is imaginary, the spoons represent a couple, not literal two spoons. The two spoons in bed also can represent, the stock of individuals and they can have. Two spoons also fit perfectly together, so this symbolizes the fact of the individuals with the stock or even the couple have a special bond within each other. A spoon also supports and holds food in place, but for this the food would be the couple or the individuals with the stock. Notice, Mr. Collins used spoons instead of any other utensil, spoons have a curvature. This represents softness, meaning love within

something, the couple and the individuals and the stock. The use of assonance vowels within the words, once, two and spoons, exemplifies the special connection. Even the bed represents, being comfortable and in an environment, in which makes you feel happy. In the next line, represents the disconnection within the couple and the stock with the individuals.
The next line in the poem is, “now tined forks,” which is quite different from the first line (2). There are three lines within this poem that have enjambment, this line is one of them. This is important to notice because it symbolizes separation with the couple or the individuals with the stock. The “tined forks,” represent how the relationships, have shifted into a deep spiral of despair (2). The relationship between both of these things have become endanger in being with each other. Hence the reasoning behind using a “tined fork”, which has sharp pointy ends resembling a threat within the relationship (2). The forks in itself represent separation because forks have a gap in between each prong, which correlates to the separations of these relationships. A fork is used for stabbing types of foods to get a hold of, but in this case, it would be the couple or the individuals with the stock. In the next line of the poem, this represents even more of the separation of these relationships.
Mr. Collins left a very distinct gap in between line two and three to represent once again the separation and to show time has passed on. This is very important because this flows into the last two lines. The next line of the poem is “across a granite table,” this is symbolizing the distance between the couple or the stock with the individuals (3). The granite in itself symbolizes a cold hard surface, but when compared to a bed there is a significant difference between surfaces. The “granite table,” also could represent a court room table, which correlates to a divorce. The, “now tined forks… across a granite table,” the forks are across from each other. This works perfectly with the granite table being a court room table, because the forks symbolize the couple poking at each other and the individuals with a stock. The stock is poking at the individuals in a relationship aspect, because the stock can be valuable at that time, but since the great recession is going on this declines the value of the stock. Which can financially destroy a relationship. This is the second line that has enjambment, to once again symbolizes the separation between the relationships. The last line is the line that truly conjoins what the poem is about.
In the last of the poem, “and the knives they have hired,” reveals the end part of what this whole poem is about, which is divorce (4).

Mr. Collins purposely switches the utensils from, spoons to forks to knives, to show how gradually a divorce happens. The word, “knives” in this line means the lawyers in which the couple hire to settle the divorce (4). Knives are also cutting utensils, so this is also another symbolization within cutting a couple in half or any relationship. The last line of the poem is the last piece to a divorce which is going to court. This is also the last line that has enjambment and truly hammers the nail with the separation between

relationships.
Throughout this poem there was tons of symbolism and imagery within it. The most important thing to take note of this poem is that the whole poem is a metaphor. Which fits once again perfectly, because all the utensils and the granite table symbolize a piece within a divorce or any failing relationship. The enjambment between the second line and fourth line, emphases the transition from, the first line and the rest. To emphases the first line, which was about love and the connection to the rest of the lines, about separation and everything deteriorating. The poem being written in 2008, during the great recession is important throughout the story because this impacted everyone financially and this made a great impact on relationships around this time.