Poetry Analysis

Billy Collins poem, I go back to the House for a Book looks at the art of decision making, and learning to just live life. Collins poem focuses on how people should learn to simplify their everyday lives and just go with the flow.

Collins writes, "But there is no catching him, no way to slow him down and put us back in sync, unless one day he decides to go back to the house for something"(39). Once you make a decision you have to stick with it, don't regret it or fret over it. What is done is done, and through this poem, Collins is trying to point out that you have to except the choices you make. If you don't, you could drive yourself crazy with "what ifs." Collins "I" character can not catch up with his ghost since he went back for the book, just like we can not take back a previous decision.

Also, the decision you make may make you better off in the long run. Even though the ghost figure is "three minutes ahead"(39), the "I" character, which we can assume is Collins, is better skilled in the love poems of Ovid. Ovid was a roman poet who wrote on the topics of love, abandoned woman, and mythological transformations. Collins proves to the reader that even though he gave some time in going back to the house, he was able to gain insight from the book he went back to grab. This emphasizes the point of expecting the decisions made, and not fretting over those lost.

What is interesting, is that Collins chooses to use the word fateful in describing his decision. Collin writes, "I who went back to the house that fateful winter morning and got the book"(40). The use of the word fateful simply ties into the idea of decisions changing the course of live. Even small, maybe insignificant choices alter the path the person is taking.

Through I go back to the House for a Book, Collins tries to display that life is quick, slow down and enjoy it. You will always be faced with decisions, and once you have made your choice stick with it. Do not bother yourself with regret or questioning, now that the decision is made and that is all that you can do about it.

Poetry Extended journal

I have never tried to write poetry before, in fact I have barely read poetry. I was very nervous in class when Ms. Mork told us we would have to write our own poem. But I took a shot at it, and it wasn't that bad. I decided to take a line out of Mary Oliver's poem, August. I tried to think of those perfect summer days, the days were you simple enjoy being outside as the backbone of my poem.

Summer Days

"When the blackberries hang swollen in the woods, in the brambles nobody owns"
(Oliver)
I lay sprawled out on the soft green grass,
watching the leaves of a giant oak
sway in the breeze.

The sun hangs lazy in the sky,
while white cotton candy clouds drift slowly across the mellow blue scene.

I close my eyes and hear
the soft chirps of tiny birds, jumping from tree to tree.

I lay sprawled out on the soft green grass,
with eyes closed, dozing into a light sleep.
Feeling perfectly content with the world.

Plaingsong Extended Journal

I chose to research what plainsong actually was or meant. It is very prevalent throughout Haruf's novel, Plainsong. Haruf starts the novel off by saying, "Plainsong-the unisonous vocal music used in the Christian church form the earliest times;any simple and unadorned melody or air." This is important, because the essence of the novel is the simplistic, gentle lifestyle that the characters lead. Plainsong can also be described as, "A liturgical chant that is monophonic and has no measure, such as Gregorian chants." The quick reference for Musical styles defines plainsong as, "6th century single line vocal melody, still used in Roman Catholic ceremonies." Although there are many definitions out there, the common thread in all of them it is very simple and lacks structure. This theme ties in with Haruf's Plainsong. All of his characters, along with his writing style, are very simple and ordinary. After they begin to form a community, it is like different voices coming together to simply form a strong loving bond.

Poetry Reader Response

I have never been big into poetry, so reading Picnic, Lighting by Billy Collins as well as, American Primitive by Mary Oliver was a new experience for me as a reader. I was surprised to see how different the two poets were from each other. I found favorites in both books, as well as poems I could not quite understand.

Billy Collins was by far my favorite, I did not care for Mary Oliver. I felt that Collins poems seemed to flow more smoothly. They also read more like a story and I felt I could connect more with what Collins wrote about. I also liked for some poems the title blended right into the next verse. His poems seemed more dreamy, and focused on nature and the world. One of my favorites, was his last poem Aristotle, how it is written with focus on beginning, middle, and end was neat. I also loved when Collins wrote in What I Learned Today, "No matter what the size the aquarium of one's learning, another colored pebble can always be dropped in"(17). Collins poems dealt with life, and different journeys. Collins smooth writing style drew me in and helped me stay connected with the poem.

Mary Oliver, on the other hand, was much harder to read. Her writing was very short, and to the point. She seemed to use only what she need in her poems and kept the writing very staccato. Oliver's poems seemed more gloomy and dreary at times. Although, short lines of her poems often stuck out to me. I loved in Lighting when she wrote, "the landscape bulging forth like a quick lesson in creation, then thudding away"(7). My favorite poem would have to be the University hospital, Boston. It is both sad and beautiful at the same time, with a love story as its center. One of my favorite lines, taken from In Blackwater Woods, Oliver writes, "To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go"(83). The poem is tragic, but it covers loving and leaving, and moving on.

Both books were, for the most part enjoyable reads. I am looking forward to discussing them in class, my knowledge about poetry is slim. I am looking forward to hearing others interpretations or meaning in the poems that I have missed.