Introduction to Poetry

Poetry is a genre like no other.  Poems can make us laugh, cry, and wonder, but they also invite us to see things in a new light.  In "Introduction to Poetry," Billy Collins does exactly this.  In his poem, he explores how people read and enjoy poetry.  

First off, the images that Collins uses really stand out.  From a beehive to a light switch, to a water skier, Collins creates strong metaphors though which the reader can "see" meaning.

Later on, Collins ends the poem with a change in mood and tone.  He ends his poem with, "But all they want to do/is tie the poem to a chair with rope/and torture a confession out of it."  This personification of a poem being tortured shows how some people look for hidden meaning in poetry. 

In the end, this poem leaves a lasting impression. I chose it because I always used to think that I needed to find someone else's interpretation of a poem.  Instead, Collins knows how important it is for readers to find their own meanings in the poems they read.