Rating: 
Summary: Glittering White Snow
Review: "I suppose I might be different from previous poet laureates by kind of emphasizing the playful or even screwball aspects of poetry." ~Billy Collins
Collins was reappointed to the post of U.S. Poet Laureate in the summer of 2002. He travels throughout the country for readings, lectures and is well loved by his audiences.
Listening to Billy Collins read his poems gave me a new appreciation for his genius. His poetry increases my capacity for viewing the world on a new artistic level. While listening, I had moments of nostalgia as images danced across my mind.
In this CD, you will find many of your favorite poems from many of his published works. They include:
1. Another reason I don't keep a gun in the house - A story of a dog barking. He humorously mixes images of a barking dog solo and Beethoven.
2. Shoveling snow with the Buddha - Winter work ends with warm drinks.
3. Marginalia - An especially enjoyable poem for anyone who loves to find scribblings in books.
4. Afternoon with Irish Cows - Completely vibrant images. You can truly see the images poem.
5. Walking across the Atlantic - An imaginative journey while walking on the water. He imagines what the fish must think about the bottoms of his feet appearing, disappearing.
6. Intro - An introduction that explains the title of this CD.
7. Consolation - Written to consol himself after canceling a trip to Europe.
8. Forgetfulness - If you are over 30, this makes complete sense. An intensely comical poem that will be appreciated by anyone trying to remember the name of a book or name of the author.
9. Workshop - Newbies enjoy entertaining Billy Collins with their artistic expression.
10. Morning - Feet on a cold floor and espresso while the typewriter awaits.
11. Driving myself to a poetry reading - An analysis of his feelings as represented
in how he places himself at various points - the car hood and the backseat.
12. Wolf - A wolf reads a book of fairy tales. This is perhaps one of my favorite Billy Collins poems. I love the description of the fur bristling and how he turns each page with his nose.
13. Purity - Explains how he loves to write and drink tea. His explanation of
how he writes romantic poetry is almost an interesting insight into male sexuality.
14. The Art of Drowning - Will you really see your life flash before your eyes?
15. Nostalgia - "Remember the 1340s?" I love this poem because it is a humorous visual journey back in time.
16. Candle Hat - A poem about a Goya painting.
17. Sweetalk - Art lovers will enjoy this love poem, especially the twist at the end.
18. Instructions to the Portrait Artist - Interesting insight into the poets' love of the intellectual life.
19. Pin-up - Decadent descriptions of murky garages and mechanics.
20. Flames - Smoky the Bear with his fur gleaming in the sun.
21. Saturday Morning - Casual observations and lazy day moments.
22. The Afterlife - Secrets from the afterlife and how you go to the place you always thought you'd go. Fun idea.
23. Man in Space - Male/Female relationships.
24. Aristotle - Thoughts about a beginning, middle and an end.
25. Wires of the Night - Especially beautiful recollection about death.
26. History of Weather - Flower ruffling breezes and heat shimmering on sand. Images of clouds, rain on battlefields and snow flurries of Victorian London.
27. Best Cigarette - Remembering his days as a smoker as a lover remembers
their true love.
28. Invention of the Saxophone - Mentions a historical character from the 13th century.
29. Child Development - Fish work up irregular verbs and children work on name calling.
30. On Reading in the Morning Paper - Dreams
31.The First Dream - Wind ghosts around the house as he leans against the door of sleep.
32. Japan - Reading a favorite Haiku.
33. Thesaurus - Lover's in myths and a congregating of word relatives. I love this one because I love words and Billy Collins has an especially creative way of exploring word meanings.
34. Nightclub - My husband read this to me once and I thought it was hilarious.
Billy Collins' wry wit and his eloquent voice contribute a comical resonance. His comic timing is impeccable and I finally understood some of the humor in his poem "Consolation" about "not" touring Italy. He gives a bit of background, which changes the entire poem. By the end of this reading, he has left the audience deliriously giddy with laughter.
I love the twists at the end of his poems that instantly captures profound emotional moments. There is a casual elegance in his poems. He invites you to journey with him through the poems, although at times Collins throws in a highly imaginative sentence or an entire poem that throws you for an intellectual loop. Billy Collins vocabulary is stunning all on its own. The way he blends the words into images and colors is more than impressive.
If you are in the mood for intellectual beauty, this CD will give you a deep appreciation for laid back and artistic observations.
If you are already a Billy Collin's fan, Pittsburgh Press has issued special hardcover limited editions of three of Billy Collins' books: Questions about Angels, The Art of Drowning, and Picnic, Lightning.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
Dedicated to Eric who found my Billy Collins book reviews and thought I'd enjoy this wonderful recording. Thank you! This was a beautiful gift.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant recording, essential, reinvents poetry
Review: As if Billy Collins was great enough, hearing him read brings another dimension to his work. This recording covers over 30 poems (many not found elsewhere) and the quality is incredible -- sounds like your in the room with him. I can't recommend this recording enough for people who enjoy his work.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most original books of poetry I've ever read
Review: Billy Collins is a poet who combines dry humor and insight--the audiobook of his poetry is wonderful, made better by Collins' reading of his poetry.I would recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: very beautiful
Review: Billy Collins poems are easy, funny, and often profound. I've had this CD for a couple of years and listen often. Good stuff.
Rating:
Summary: very beautiful
Review: Billy Collins poems are easy, funny, and often profound. I've had this CD for a couple of years and listen often. Good stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Tally ho! Seven stars!
Review: Billy Collins will delight people who thought they couldn't like poetry and thrill the rest of us even more. His poems amuse, broaden, brighten, and enlighten, and you only need to have this CD because Billy reads his words even better than you do.
Rating:
Summary: Billy,...where are you? People call me, looking for you!
Review: Billy Collins. I am not a poet...I like poetry, and your's is probably as great as everyone says, but where in the heck can people pick up your work????? I work at CIELO publishing and we must get at least 6 or 7 calls a week in regards to: THE BEST CIGARETTE. I have people calling from all kinds of bookstores- even big, bad, B&N! Finally, I thought I'd give old dependable AMAZON.COM a twirl so I could at least recommend to people a place to go where they could buy this CD. I am happy to direct these calls and will recommend AMAZON.COM as the place to find your CD and just about just about everything else other stores say, "THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!" Merci beaucoup, Mary Terra (from CIELO Publishing!)
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: I could never really get into poetry, although I am a fan of Jazz and Spoken Word (close kin). A lot of poetry to me seems long winded, obscure, pretentious, and drawn out. Mr. Collins work is just the opposite. Eloquent and profound. I feel his words, and they have inspired me to read more of his works and the works of new authors as well. I finished "BrainChild: Visions of a Blind Poet" by Derek Alexander, and found it to be an excellent read. I can't wait to get my copy of "Tuesday's Dreams." Thank you, Mr. Collins, for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of poetry.
Rating:
Summary: another window into a poet's mind
Review: I was charmed to see that an author I already knew I liked had made a CD of his poetry readings. Better yet, the CD contains selections of work from several of Billy Collins' collections (well, better for Billy anyway -- I ended up buying 3 or 4 books to get copies of the poems I liked the best from the CD!) Pop this CD in your car radio for a pleasant break driving to work or even on a trip. Enjoyable even for passengers who don't usually enjoy poetry, as he's amusing, insightful, and even profound. I'm glad this CD is being re-released (originally available in 1997, now listed as available in 2001).
Rating:
Summary: I would prefer to give this 10 stars
Review: Months ago, while searching through amazon, I came across this CD. I had not before heard of or read any of Billy Collins work, but since I enjoy reading poetry as well as writing it myself, I thought I would give this disk a chance, so I ordered it. After receiving it, I listened to it for the first time in the car, while driving across the city to meet friends at a new, upscale club. I remember sitting at a stop light, and having tears run down my cheeks. Maybe it was because I happened to be in love. Maybe it was because the poem forced me to think back on days gone by. Maybe it was because I'm a romantic. But one simple line begging a pardon over egg salad stains had me wiping off the mascara that travelled downward. Billy Collins has a way of grasping the feelings within us that we try so hard to keep under wraps. He can be funny and uplifting one moment, and shockingly poignant the next. But always, he is honest. I think it must have been the honesty that suddenly jarred my emotions. Since purchasing this CD, I have bought several of his books. I'm hooked. Highly, HIGHLY recommended.
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