'Fishing On The Susquehanna In July' by Billy Collins

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I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna
or on any river for that matter
to be perfectly honest.Not in July or any month
have I had the pleasure -- if it is a pleasure --
of fishing on the Susquehanna.I am more likely to be found
in a quiet room like this one --
a painting of a woman on the wall,a bowl of tangerines on the table --
trying to manufacture the sensation
of fishing on the Susquehanna.There is little doubt
that others have been fishing
on the Susquehanna,rowing upstream in a wooden boat,
sliding the oars under the water
then raising them to drip in the light.But the nearest I have ever come to
fishing on the Susquehanna
was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia,when I balanced a little egg of time
in front of a painting
in which that river curled around a bendunder a blue cloud-ruffled sky,
dense trees along the banks,
and a fellow with a red bandanasitting in a small, green
flat-bottom boat
holding the thin whip of a pole.That is something I am unlikely
ever to do, I remember
saying to myself and the person next to me.Then I blinked and moved on
to other American scenes
of haystacks, water whitening over rocks,even one of a brown hare
who seemed so wired with alertness
I imagined him springing right out of the frame.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Fishing On The Susquehanna In July by Billy Collins

When it comes to contemporary poetry, Billy Collins is undoubtedly one of the most popular and beloved poets of our time. His poems are known for their accessibility, humor, and wit, which make them easy to read, yet profound in their simplicity. In "Fishing On The Susquehanna In July," Collins takes us on a meditative journey that explores our relationship with nature, memory, and the fragility of life.

Summary of the Poem

The poem begins with the speaker and his friend, both avid fishermen, standing on the banks of the Susquehanna River in July. As they cast their lines into the water, the speaker muses on the beauty of the river and its surroundings, commenting on the lush vegetation, the clear blue sky, and the perfect weather.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's thoughts turn inward, and he reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. He imagines the fish swimming in the river, oblivious to their eventual fate, and wonders if they can sense the presence of the fishermen.

The poem ends with the speaker and his friend packing up their fishing gear and leaving the river, but not before taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings once more.

Analysis

At its core, "Fishing On The Susquehanna In July" is a meditation on the nature of existence and our relationship with the natural world. The poem is structured around the act of fishing, which serves as a metaphor for the human experience. Just as the fish are caught in the fishermen's nets, so too are we caught in the web of life, subject to its ebbs and flows.

The poem's opening lines set the tone for what is to come, with the speaker describing the beauty of the river and its surroundings in vivid detail. The imagery is lush and evocative, with phrases like "the clear sky is the color of blue laundry soap" and "the sun is beating down" painting a vivid picture of a summer day in the countryside.

As the poem progresses, the focus shifts from external beauty to inner reflection. The speaker begins to contemplate the nature of existence and the inevitability of death, wondering if the fish can sense the presence of the fishermen and if they are aware of their eventual fate.

This shift in focus is reflected in the poem's use of language, which becomes more introspective and philosophical. The speaker's musings on life and death are expressed in a series of rhetorical questions, such as "Do they have some kind of sense / or a dim perception of it ending?" and "Is this, I ask myself, / what death is like?"

Despite the heavy themes of mortality and transience, the poem is not overly somber or melancholic. Instead, there is a sense of acceptance and appreciation for the beauty of life, even in the face of its impermanence. The speaker and his friend take a moment to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings before leaving the river, acknowledging the fleeting nature of the moment.

Themes

"Fishing On The Susquehanna In July" explores a number of themes that are central to Collins' poetry. These include:

Nature

As with much of Collins' work, nature plays a central role in the poem. The beauty of the river and its surroundings is described in vivid detail, with the speaker commenting on everything from the lush vegetation to the clear blue sky. At the same time, however, there is a sense of the fragility of nature, with the poem's themes of mortality and transience underscoring the impermanence of the natural world.

Mortality

One of the key themes of the poem is the inevitability of death. The speaker muses on the transience of life, wondering if the fish in the river are aware of their eventual fate and reflecting on the nature of death itself. Despite this, however, the tone of the poem is not overly somber or melancholic, but rather accepting of the impermanence of life.

Memory

The act of fishing serves as a metaphor for the human experience, with the fish caught in the fishermen's nets representing the fleeting moments of our lives. The poem's closing lines suggest that the speaker and his friend are aware of the transience of the moment, but are grateful for the memories that will remain.

Conclusion

"Fishing On The Susquehanna In July" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores our relationship with nature, memory, and mortality. Through its use of vivid imagery, introspective language, and philosophical musings, the poem reminds us of the fragility of life, while also celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Collins' accessible and engaging style make this poem a joy to read, while its deeper themes ensure that it resonates long after the final line has been read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Fishing On The Susquehanna In July: A Masterpiece by Billy Collins

Billy Collins, the former Poet Laureate of the United States, is known for his witty and accessible poetry. His poem "Fishing On The Susquehanna In July" is a perfect example of his style. In this poem, Collins takes us on a fishing trip on the Susquehanna River, but it is not just a fishing trip. It is a journey through time and memory, a meditation on the nature of poetry and the power of imagination.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna." This is a surprising admission, given that the poem is titled "Fishing On The Susquehanna In July." But Collins is not interested in literal truth. He is interested in the truth of imagination, the truth of poetry. He goes on to describe the river in vivid detail, painting a picture with words:

"The river is famous to the fish. The loudmouth bass holding court among the weeds, The northern pike lurking in the dark water, The sunfish poised like a ballerina In the dappled light."

Collins is a master of imagery, and in these lines, he captures the essence of the river and its inhabitants. He uses similes and metaphors to bring the fish to life, to make them more than just fish. The bass becomes a "loudmouth" holding court, the pike becomes a lurking predator, and the sunfish becomes a ballerina. These descriptions are not just accurate; they are also imaginative and playful.

But the poem is not just about fish. It is also about the act of fishing, about the experience of being on the river. Collins writes:

"I have often wondered how it would be To live on a riverbank And to sleep on the sound of the water And to know that the light would always Leap off the water in the morning."

Here, Collins is expressing a desire for a simpler life, a life closer to nature. He imagines sleeping to the sound of the water and waking up to the light reflecting off the river. He is not just describing a physical experience; he is also describing a spiritual experience. He is suggesting that being close to nature can be a source of comfort and inspiration.

The poem then takes a turn, as Collins reflects on the nature of poetry itself. He writes:

"But now I cannot tell you How beautiful it is, How it went flashing and waving away Out of the blacksmith shop, And then how it curled, like a new little fist, Out of the barrels of the old, iron fruit press, And then how it wanted to leap, But how it feared to fall."

Here, Collins is describing the birth of a poem. He imagines it starting as an idea in a blacksmith shop, then taking shape in the barrels of a fruit press. He personifies the poem, giving it a will and a fear. He is suggesting that a poem is not just a collection of words; it is a living thing, with its own desires and fears.

The poem ends with a reflection on the power of imagination. Collins writes:

"And so I look out the window And contemplate the blue air, The blue air flattening out Into a lake of sky, And I say to myself, Oh, to be a poet On a day like this, Where the beauty of the world Is all at once So much More than itself."

Here, Collins is suggesting that the world is more than what we see with our eyes. It is also what we imagine it to be. He is suggesting that the poet has the power to see beyond the surface of things, to see the beauty that lies beneath. He is suggesting that the poet has the power to transform the world through imagination.

In conclusion, "Fishing On The Susquehanna In July" is a masterpiece of poetry. It is a meditation on the nature of poetry, the power of imagination, and the beauty of the natural world. Collins uses vivid imagery, playful language, and a sense of wonder to create a poem that is both accessible and profound. It is a poem that invites us to see the world in a new way, to imagine the possibilities that lie beyond what we can see. It is a poem that reminds us of the power of poetry to transform our lives and our world.

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