Poetry Reading with Billy Collins

I attended a poetry reading last night at APU to hear Poet Laureate Billy Collins read and discuss some of his poetry. I sat near the back and so it was interesting to observe the audience. There were several professors that had encouraged their classes to be there. The English and Lit majors all sat near the front and they were rightfully in awe. There were lots of Collins' admirers from the community there also. Much like church, the first ten rows or so were were deeply involved.

I was, however, in one of the back rows, squarely in the middle of the students who apparently had to be there for one reason or another. Most of them not only did not enjoy the very entertaining and insightful lecture, they looked like they were being tortured as they tried to endure what they obviously viewed as 90 minutes of their rich and meaningful lives that they were never going to get back. It made me sad that they - for whatever reason - were unable to appreciate and be amazed at the thoughtfulness embodied right in front of them. But it also made me wonder how many times I have been blind to the revelation of beauty and missed a moment to marvel. 

Anyway, here are my favorite two poems of the evening:

The first is written by Collins. It is entitled Hangover (or Migraine if you are Nazarene).

If I were crowned emperor this morning,

every child who is playing Marco Polo in the swimming pool of this motel,

shouting the name Marco Polo back and forth

Marco Polo Marco Polo

would be required to read a biography of Marco Polo-

a long one with fine print-

as well as a history of China and of Venice,

the birthplace of the venerated explorer

Marco Polo Marco Polo

after which each child would be quizzed by me

then executed by drowning regardless how much they managed to retain

about the glorious life and times of

Marco Polo Marco Polo

 

My other favorite is this poem by another Poet Laureate, Howard Nemerov, entitled Eggs and Bacon

The chicken contributes.

But the pig gives it's all.

I might even be able to memorize that one.

Comments

[Wesley Mcgranor]

Interesting reads...

[Patrick Oden]

"But it also made me wonder how many times I have been blind to the revelation of beauty and missed a moment to marvel."

This makes me think a bit about sanctification. Far too often we limit sanctification to the clearly ethical, almost legal. As we are sanctified we indulge all those deadly sins less and less. Or, on the other side, we help those in need more.

I like the idea of a more expansive understanding of sanctification, not least of all because I think the Spirit of Life, is more expansive in the work of sanctification.

In the sanctified life we not only become more moral, we become more aware of beauty in all its forms. Our soul expands to embrace the beauty of words, of art, of music, of nature so that we celebrate with God the truth and hope that he has given to this world both in the creation and in the re-creation through Christ.

[Patrick Oden]

I like this one from Patrick Kavanaugh:

That in the end
I may find
Something not sold for a penny
In the slums of Mind
That I may break
With these hands
The bread of Wisdom that grows
In the other lands.
For this, for this
Do I wear
The rags of hunger and climb
The unending stair.