'The Art Of Drowning' by Billy Collins

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I wonder how it all got started, this business
about seeing your life flash before your eyes
while you drown, as if panic, or the act of submergence,
could startle time into such compression, crushing
decades in the vice of your desperate, final seconds.After falling off a steamship or being swept away
in a rush of floodwaters, wouldn't you hope
for a more leisurely review, an invisible hand
turning the pages of an album of photographs-
you up on a pony or blowing out candles in a conic hat.How about a short animated film, a slide presentation?
Your life expressed in an essay, or in one model photograph?
Wouldn't any form be better than this sudden flash?
Your whole existence going off in your face
in an eyebrow-singeing explosion of biography-
nothing like the three large volumes you envisioned.Survivors would have us believe in a brilliance
here, some bolt of truth forking across the water,
an ultimate Light before all the lights go out,
dawning on you with all its megalithic tonnage.
But if something does flash before your eyes
as you go under, it will probably be a fish,a quick blur of curved silver darting away,
having nothing to do with your life or your death.
The tide will take you, or the lake will accept it all
as you sink toward the weedy disarray of the bottom,
leaving behind what you have already forgotten,
the surface, now overrun with the high travel of clouds.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Art of Drowning: A Masterpiece of Poetic Artistry

If you're looking for a collection of poems that will sweep you off your feet, Billy Collins' The Art of Drowning is the perfect choice. This masterful work of poetic artistry is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry or appreciates the beauty of language. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and motifs that Collins weaves throughout the collection and examine how he uses language to create a powerful emotional impact on the reader.

Introduction

The Art of Drowning is a collection of poems published by Billy Collins in 1995. The collection has received widespread acclaim from literary critics and general readers alike, and it is easy to see why. The poems in this collection are beautifully crafted, and they touch on a wide range of themes and topics.

From the opening poem, "The Introduction," to the final poem, "Nostalgia," the collection takes readers on a journey through the ups and downs of life. Collins explores everything from the mundane to the profound, from everyday experiences to the mysteries of the universe.

Themes and Motifs

One of the most prominent themes in The Art of Drowning is the passage of time. Collins reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of aging and death. In "Old Man Eating Alone in a Chinese Restaurant," he writes:

He looks up from his eggroll,
And sees the waitress coming toward him
With a bowl of hot mustard soup.
"It is good for you," she says
And places the bowl down firmly
And walks away.

This poem is just one example of how Collins uses language to create a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. He captures the moment of the old man's solitude and the sense of loss that comes with the passing of time.

Another theme that runs throughout the collection is the power of memory. Collins explores how memories shape our identities and how they can be both comforting and painful. In "Forgetfulness," he writes:

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,

This poem is a poignant reflection on the experience of forgetting. Collins captures the frustration and sadness that comes with losing memories and the sense of emptiness that can result.

Language and Style

One of the things that make The Art of Drowning such a powerful collection is Collins' use of language. His writing is clear and concise, yet it is also rich and evocative. He uses vivid imagery and sensory details to create a sense of place and atmosphere.

In "Nightclub," for example, Collins writes:

The music hurls itself
out of the bandstand
and into the faces
of the listeners
who have come all this way
to lift themselves out of their lives
like a clothes hanger on a hook
in the hallway,
to feel the power of this music
to dissipate their loneliness.

This passage is a perfect example of Collins' ability to capture a moment in time and convey a powerful emotional impact. The language is lyrical and evocative, and the image of the music "hurling itself" out of the bandstand is particularly striking.

Conclusion

Overall, The Art of Drowning is a brilliant collection of poems that is sure to leave a lasting impression on its readers. Billy Collins is a master of his craft, and his writing is both powerful and accessible. He explores a wide range of themes and topics, from the passage of time to the power of memory, and he does so with a clarity and precision that is truly remarkable.

If you haven't yet read The Art of Drowning, I highly recommend that you do. It is a masterpiece of poetic artistry that is sure to leave you breathless.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Billy Collins’ Poetry The Art Of Drowning is a collection of poems that explores the complexities of human emotions and experiences. The poems in this collection are written in a simple and accessible language, yet they are profound and thought-provoking. Collins’ unique style of writing has made him one of the most popular poets of our time. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, style, and literary devices used in Poetry The Art Of Drowning.

Themes

The themes in Poetry The Art Of Drowning are varied and cover a wide range of human experiences. One of the most prominent themes in this collection is the theme of mortality. Collins explores the inevitability of death and the fear that it instills in us. In the poem “The Art Of Drowning,” Collins writes, “I know what you’re thinking: you think I’m drowning / that I’m sunk in this cold lake / and that I’m drowning / But you’re wrong. / What you see is only the surface / of things.” This poem is a metaphor for the fear of death and the struggle to stay afloat in the face of mortality.

Another theme that runs through this collection is the theme of memory. Collins explores the power of memory and how it shapes our lives. In the poem “Forgetfulness,” Collins writes, “The name of the author is the first to go / followed obediently by the title, the plot, / the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel / which suddenly becomes one you have never read.” This poem is a poignant reminder of how fleeting our memories can be and how important it is to hold onto them.

Style

Collins’ style of writing is simple and accessible, yet it is also profound and thought-provoking. He uses everyday language and imagery to convey complex emotions and experiences. His poems are often humorous and playful, yet they also have a deeper meaning. In the poem “The Lanyard,” Collins writes, “She gave me life and milk from her breasts, / and I gave her a lanyard. / She nursed me in many a sickroom, / lifted teaspoons of medicine to my lips, / set cold face-cloths on my forehead, / and then led me out into the airy light / and taught me to walk and swim, / and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.” This poem is a playful and humorous tribute to a mother’s love, yet it also explores the complex relationship between a mother and her child.

Literary Devices

Collins uses a variety of literary devices in Poetry The Art Of Drowning to convey his message. One of the most prominent literary devices he uses is metaphor. In the poem “The Art Of Drowning,” Collins uses the metaphor of drowning to explore the fear of death. He writes, “I know what you’re thinking: you think I’m drowning / that I’m sunk in this cold lake / and that I’m drowning / But you’re wrong. / What you see is only the surface / of things.” This metaphor is a powerful way of conveying the fear of death and the struggle to stay afloat in the face of mortality.

Another literary device that Collins uses is imagery. He uses vivid and descriptive imagery to create a picture in the reader’s mind. In the poem “Forgetfulness,” Collins writes, “The name of the author is the first to go / followed obediently by the title, the plot, / the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel / which suddenly becomes one you have never read.” This imagery is a powerful way of conveying the fleeting nature of memory and how easily it can slip away from us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Poetry The Art Of Drowning is a collection of poems that explores the complexities of human emotions and experiences. Collins’ unique style of writing, his use of metaphor and imagery, and his exploration of themes such as mortality and memory make this collection a powerful and thought-provoking read. Whether you are a fan of poetry or not, Poetry The Art Of Drowning is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the human experience in all its complexity.

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