Six answers for Billy Collins

Do you truly believe you were doing the original author a favor in this rewrite? (from Alison’s blog)

Billy Collins is doing someone a favor, but it isn’t the original author—well, not directly, anyway. By rewriting the poem, he’s showing the poet how futile their strategy is, and, in turn, teaching the readers of his poem an important lesson on word choice and meaning. He’s also expressing his disinterest for poems of that style.

By making this poem are you trying to criticize the original poem or is it for a different reason? (from Amanda’s blog)

Billy Collins’ strategy here is to highlight an important concept in writing: that meaning is better attained through precise and concise wording. That’s not to say that he’s rejecting artful construction—he embraces it in his parody. He’s merely rejecting the habits of lovestruck poets, and consequently implying that writers shouldn’t fall into the trap of using grandiose metaphors.

Why did you incorporate metaphors about yourself in the poem? (from Jill’s blog)

It is a function of Collins’ humor to alter the speaker’s attention from his/her lover to himself/herself. Not only is it funny, but it summarizes Collins’ feelings toward poets embracing this style: that they may be self-indulgent or self-centered by using words in such a show-off manner.