'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 by Billy Collins
Are you a fan of contemporary poetry? Have you read Billy Collins' The Art of Drowning? If not, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful and poignant pieces of modern poetry.
In this 1995 collection, Billy Collins explores the theme of mortality and the fragility of life through a series of poems that are at once humorous, melancholic and thought-provoking. The Art of Drowning, the title poem of the collection, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Collins' poetry, and his unique style that has earned him a reputation as one of the greatest poets of our time.
What makes The Art of Drowning so special?
Firstly, the poem is beautifully crafted, with a structure that flows effortlessly from one stanza to another. It is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of drowning, both literally and metaphorically.
In the first part, Collins describes the process of drowning in vivid detail, from the initial shock of cold water to the final surrender to the depths. He uses imagery that is both beautiful and terrifying, such as "the two-headed boy / who sits on my bed at night / with his own eyes closed to listen / to the voices of the drowned." The imagery is vivid and haunting, and it creates a sense of both awe and terror in the reader.
In the second part, Collins shifts from the literal to the metaphorical, exploring the idea of drowning in life, and the many ways in which we can find ourselves submerged in the world around us. He writes, "we are all drowning / in our own way, / in lack of love, / in too much love, / in years of dirty dishes / and cigarettes and cats." This is a powerful statement on the human condition, and it is a theme that runs throughout Collins' poetry.
Finally, in the third part, Collins brings the poem full circle, returning to the literal image of drowning, but this time with a twist. He writes, "I am the one / whose lips are touching yours / in a long, deep kiss, / or the one / who is whispering to you / in the dark, / while you lie there / drowning." This is a stunning conclusion to the poem, and it leaves the reader with a sense of both hope and despair, as if we are all drowning, but there is still the possibility of love and connection even in the midst of the struggle.
But this is not all that makes The Art of Drowning special.
What really sets this poem apart is Collins' ability to balance the deep existential themes with a sense of humor and irony. He is a master of the unexpected turn of phrase, the witty observation, the humorous metaphor. For example, he describes the drowned as "the ones who have gone / before us, / the baptized, the sprinkled, / the ones whose fingers / have turned into prunes, / who never come back / to tell us what it's like." This is funny, but it is also a poignant reminder of our own mortality, and the mystery of what lies beyond.
Collins' humor is not just a superficial device, however. It is an integral part of his style, and it serves to deepen the emotional impact of the poem. By juxtaposing the tragic with the comic, he creates a sense of contrast that heightens our awareness of both. He writes, "we are all sinking together / and we know it, / we are all clutching each other / and we know it, / we are all lost / and we know it." The humor here serves to underscore the desperation of the situation, and the sense of shared humanity that unites us all.
In conclusion, The Art of Drowning is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry.
It is a poem that speaks to the deepest questions of human existence, while never losing sight of the absurdity and humor that make life worth living. It is a poem that is both beautiful and haunting, and it is a testament to the power and versatility of the English language. If you have not yet read The Art of Drowning, I urge you to do so, and to discover for yourself the brilliance of Billy Collins' poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Art of Drowning: A Masterpiece by Billy Collins
If you are a poetry enthusiast, you must have come across the name Billy Collins. He is one of the most celebrated poets of our time, and his works have won numerous accolades. One of his most famous poems is The Art of Drowning, which was published in 1995. This poem is a masterpiece that explores the themes of life, death, and the human condition. In this article, we will take a closer look at The Art of Drowning and analyze its meaning and significance.
The Art of Drowning is a poem that tells the story of a man who is drowning. The speaker in the poem is the man who is drowning, and he describes his experience in vivid detail. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the man's experience.
In the first stanza, the man describes the moment when he realizes that he is drowning. He says, "I wonder how / many people in this city / have gone to bed / with their last breath / in their lungs." This line is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life. It is a reminder that we never know when our time will come, and that we should cherish every moment that we have.
The second stanza of the poem explores the man's thoughts as he is drowning. He says, "I am thinking / of a woman / who is swimming beside me / and how I am holding / her around her waist / as we swim through the water." This stanza is a beautiful depiction of the power of love. Even in the face of death, the man is thinking of the woman he loves. This is a reminder that love is the most powerful force in the universe, and that it can transcend even death.
The third and final stanza of the poem explores the man's acceptance of his fate. He says, "I am learning to breathe underwater / just as I learned to walk on land." This line is a powerful metaphor for the human condition. We are all learning to navigate the world around us, and we must learn to adapt to the challenges that we face. The man's acceptance of his fate is a reminder that we must all learn to accept the things that we cannot change.
The Art of Drowning is a poem that is rich in symbolism and metaphor. The water in the poem represents the unknown and the uncertain. The woman that the man is holding onto represents love and companionship. The man's acceptance of his fate represents the human condition and our need to adapt to the challenges that we face.
One of the things that makes The Art of Drowning such a powerful poem is its use of imagery. The poem is full of vivid descriptions that bring the man's experience to life. For example, the line "I am learning to breathe underwater" is a powerful image that conveys the man's struggle to survive. The line "I wonder how / many people in this city / have gone to bed / with their last breath / in their lungs" is another powerful image that conveys the fragility of life.
Another thing that makes The Art of Drowning such a powerful poem is its use of language. Billy Collins is a master of language, and his words have a way of evoking powerful emotions in the reader. For example, the line "I am thinking / of a woman / who is swimming beside me" is a beautiful example of how language can be used to convey love and companionship.
In conclusion, The Art of Drowning is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life, the power of love, and the human condition. Billy Collins is a master of language and imagery, and his words have a way of evoking powerful emotions in the reader. If you have not yet read The Art of Drowning, I highly recommend that you do so. It is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
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