Poet: Billy Collins

Fishing on the Susquehanna in July    

by Billy Collins

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 bend

under a blue cloud-ruffled sky,

dense trees along the banks,

and a fellow with a red bandanna

sitting 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.

I like this poem because it shows how imagination can be such a powerful force. The narrator describes the scene of fishing so effectively, without ever being there. Collins is sending the message that the mind is a powerful thing.

http://poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16497

"It is difficult to get the news from poetry, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there." -- William Carlos Williams

William Williams is saying that poets provide valuable insight to the world's doings that non-poets do not perceive. People that are not exposed to poetry are less  fortunate and 'die miserably."

Success

I turned 57 last week. In my opinion,  I am successful. I own a lime-green Ninja Sport Motorcycle. It goes 0-60 in like three seconds. That is my favorite toy. I was also able to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine; owning a dolphin as a pet. Her name is Nadia (pictured). I can ride her around the ocean. It's like having a jet- ski, only better. She learns tricks very quickly.  I live in a gigantic house right next to the beach. 

It wasn't easy to get here, though. Only through very hard work have I been lucky enough to obtain these material possessions. I went through many strenuous years of education to receive the degree I did so I could obtain a high-paying job. After I received my Ph.D. in immunology I received a hefty increase in salary.

There is one accomplishment I am particularly proud of. I cured malaria. Forty years ago, malaria was the world's number one disease. It killed more people than heart disease, cancer or AIDS. Because of my efforts, millions of lives have been saved. I get a great sense of satisfaction from remembering this triumph in this life. 

Show, Don't Tell

Helmets are the protectors of brains. The faded green paint tells an exciting story of valor, honor, loyalty, and courage. Not long ago, hot, fast-moving pieces of lead sliced through its shell and into whatever unfortunate material may be inside. One soldier must only hope that the metal was just a bit thicker. The pungent  scent of sweat, gunpowder, and blood emanates the struggle this soldier went through. This piece of metal is out of commission, but will always remind those who see it, the conflict one soldier endured.

Cathedral

In my opinion, "Cathedral" was a better short story than "Every Day Use." I believe this is so for a couple reasons. Firstly, "Cathedral" had a captivating plot. It kept the reader interested in where the story was going. On the other hand, "Every Day Use" was more of a biography of a family than a story. The narrator simply told the reader about her children, which I found to be very boring. The purpose of "Every Day Use," it seems, is to convey its theme. Granted, it does fulfill its purpose well. However, "Cathedral" is the better story, overall.

Another reason "Cathedral" is a better story is its quality of artistic ability. The author of "Cathedral" is evidently a more talented writer than the author of "Every Day Use." The author of "Cathedral" made the background information very clear which made the rest of the story easy to understand. The second short story was less clear. Also, the elements of the first story came together to complement the moral of the story better than the second. "Every Day Use" contained too much extraneous information that was not necessary to the story. 

Secret

I can't remember when I held a bad secret. If I had held a bad secret, the consequences might be bad. My parents would yell at me for being deceitful. I might have held a bad secret before but it must not have been very important because I do not remember it. 

New Year's Resolution

I want to gain weight. After I broke both my arms I lost thirteen pounds. Now I look abnormally skinny again. I am hoping to gain fifteen pounds before next school year. I plan to eat more and eat a better quality of food. I will try to have six meals every day. This way my metabolism will not spike and my body will not need to tap into energy supplies in my muscle.