Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems of the Sung Dynasty, I Pause To Admire the Length and Clarity of Their Titles -- Billy Collins

       
(Poem #691) Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems of the Sung Dynasty, I Pause To Admire the Length and Clarity of Their Titles
 It seems these poets have nothing
 up their ample sleeves
 they turn over so many cards so early,
 telling us before the first line
 whether it is wet or dry,
 night or day, the season the man is standing in,
 even how much he has had to drink.

 Maybe it is autumn and he is looking at a sparrow.
 Maybe it is snowing on a town with a beautiful name.

 "Viewing Peonies at the Temple of Good Fortune
 on a Cloudy Afternoon" is one of Sun Tung Po's.
 "Dipping Water from the River and Simmering Tea"
 is another one, or just
 "On a Boat, Awake at Night."

 And Lu Yu takes the simple rice cake with
 "In a Boat on a Summer Evening
 I Heard the Cry of a Waterbird.
 It Was Very Sad and Seemed To Be Saying
 My Woman Is Cruel--Moved, I Wrote This Poem."

 There is no iron turnstile to push against here
 as with headings like "Vortex on a String,"
 "The Horn of Neurosis," or whatever.
 No confusingly inscribed welcome mat to puzzle over.

 Instead, "I Walk Out on a Summer Morning
 to the Sound of Birds and a Waterfall"
 is a beaded curtain brushing over my shoulders.

 And "Ten Days of Spring Rain Have Kept Me Indoors"
 is a servant who shows me into the room
 where a poet with a thin beard
 is sitting on a mat with a jug of wine
 whispering something about clouds and cold wind,
 about sickness and the loss of friends.

 How easy he has made it for me to enter here,
 to sit down in a corner,
 cross my legs like his, and listen.
-- Billy Collins
I just love the way today's poem implicitly echoes the conventions of the
very same Chinese poems it explicitly pays tribute to - from the sparse,
Imagistic words it uses to its own overly expressive title [1]. I also like
the dry humour of phrases like "the simple rice cake" and "up their ample
sleeves", and the sardonic wit that came up with "Vortex on a String" and
"The Horn of Neurosis" (!)...

... of course, the humour shouldn't mask the fact that Collins is making an
important point about what he believes poetry should be and mean and do. Too
often (especially these days), poets seem to speak only to other poets, or
(even worse!) to academics and critics. And while I confess I like
cleverness and intellectual games, I have to agree with Collins in
castigating those who pursue obscurity for its own sake, who refuse to
"[make it easy] to enter [a poem] / to sit down in a corner / cross my legs
... and listen".

thomas.

[1] form, content, self-reference, Imagism, the mystery of the Orient...
wow, I managed to refer to all of my favourite critical hobby-horses in a
single sentence!

[Biography]

Billy Collins was born in New York City in 1941. He is the author of six
books of poetry, including Picnic, Lightning (University of Pittsburgh
Press, 1998); The Art of Drowning (1995), which was a finalist for the
Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize; Questions About Angels (1991), which was
selected by Edward Hirsch for the National Poetry Series; The Apple That
Astonished Paris (1988); Video Poems (1980); and Pokerface (1977). A
recording of Collins reading thirty-three of his poems, The Best Cigarette,
was released in 1997. Collins's poetry has appeared in anthologies,
textbooks, and a variety of periodicals, including Poetry, American Poetry
Review, American Scholar, Harper's, Paris Review, and The New Yorker. His
work has been featured in the Pushcart Prize anthology and The Best American
Poetry for 1992, 1993, and 1997. He has received fellowships from the New
York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the
Guggenheim Foundation. In 1992, he was chosen by the New York Public Library
to serve as "Literary Lion." For several years he has conducted summer
poetry workshops in Ireland at University College Galway. He is a professor
of English at Lehman College, City University of New York. He lives in
Somers, New York.

     -- The Academy of American Poets
[broken link] http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=294.

[Links]

http://www.bigsnap.com/billy.html is a very comprehensive website dedicated
to Billy Collins; it has links to several other of his poems.

We haven't had a whole lot of Chinese poetry on the Minstrels, though check
out
Poem #70, Ezra Pound, "The River Merchant's Wife: A Letter"
Poem #504, Li Po, "About Tu Fu"
Poem #683, Li Po, "To Tu Fu from Shantung"

There are also several haiku by Basho, Buson and the like; see Poem #23,
Poem #56 and Poem #277.

And finally, the essay accompanying Geoffrey Hill's "A Prayer to the Sun",
Poem #349, has more on the concept of 'necessary obscurity' in poetry.

All this, and much much more, at the Minstrels website,
http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/

39 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Anonymous said...

I think everything wrote made a ton of sense.
However, what about this? suppose you were to write a awesome headline?
I mean, I don't want to tell you how to run your website, but what if you added a headline to maybe grab folk's attention?
I mean "Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems of the Sung Dynasty, I Pause To Admire the Length and Clarity of Their Titles -- Billy Collins" is kinda vanilla.
You could glance at Yahoo's front page and note how they create article headlines to get viewers interested. You might add a related video or a pic or two to grab readers interested about everything've got to say.
In my opinion, it could bring your posts a little livelier.


Visit my blog; Home improvement ideas

Anonymous said...

Hello, I enjoy reading through your post.
I like to write a little comment to support you.

Also visit my site: fisheryguide.Com

Anonymous said...

Amazing! Its truly awesome post, I have got much clear idea concerning from this
article.

Stop by my web page - http://www.Uswebpros.com

Anonymous said...

What's up, its nice piece of writing about media print, we all be aware of media is a wonderful source of facts.

My web site - www.1worldsarongs.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for finally talking about > "Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems of the Sung Dynasty, I Pause To Admire the Length and Clarity of Their Titles -- Billy Collins" < Liked it!

my page: loan in sg

Anonymous said...

I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I'll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back in the future. All the best

Also visit my website :: certified patent valuation Analyst

Welcome Mat said...

I have also bookmarked the website, i loved some of the use of words "No confusingly inscribed welcome mat to puzzle over"

Anonymous said...

Thanks for every other great post. The place else could
anybody get that type of information in such a perfect manner
of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I
am at the search for such info.

Look into my page: Whole Life Insurance

Anonymous said...

Having friend with girls that you like is so much easier due to the emergence of several
social networking sites. s discuss a few tips which will help
you zeroing out your preferred dating for disabled site.

If you suspect you're teen is using Oo - Voo or other video call applications in a harmful or risky way you can use a keylogger, computer or mobile
spy monitoring software to find out if any rules
have been broken.

My blog post bi chat

Anonymous said...

You have a very good point of view here.Hemorrhoids Treatment
Cure originated from a herb located throughout India, Asia and Indonesia and used at Ayurvedic medicines.

This place appearance is yellow and pumpkin shaped. The several common name for this herb can be Gambooge.
In Asia or throughout different elements of the entire world, this plant is
used to preserve various food as perfectly as a preparation for specific food items delicancy.


Look at my blog ... hemorrhoids forum

Anonymous said...

This application is very useful and certainly save money on text messaging,
for me has become an indispensable tool.
This version introduced the free turn navigation map which is now
the USP of Android phones. You can transfer files or download from one the other.


Also visit my homepage - Line Cookie Run cheats

Anonymous said...

I was able to find good information from your content.


Also visit my web-site - photoshop cs6 serial number generator

Anonymous said...

May I just say what a relief to uncover an individual who really knows what they are discussing over the internet.
You actually realize how to bring a problem to light and make it
important. A lot more people really need to read this and understand this side of the story.

I was surprised that you aren't more popular given that you certainly have the
gift.

My blog more hints (http://utradioguide.com)

Anonymous said...

I need to to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every bit
of it. I have you book marked to look at new things you post…

my website: Nike Free Run 5 Womens

Anonymous said...

Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you really recognise
what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally
talk over with my site =). We could have a link exchange contract between us

Here is my website - compare web hosting providers

Anonymous said...

Aw, this was an incredibly gօod post. Spending some tine and actul effort too make a grat article… buut what caan I
say… I hеsitɑte a whole lot and don't seem to get anything done.


Check out mmy web sіte: Autorijles Rijswijk

Anonymous said...

I'm gone to say to my little brother, that he should also go to see this blog on regular basis
to take updated from newest news update.

My web page Manhattan Co-Op Inspector

Anonymous said...

As trick-or-treaters storm оn through your Haunted House
this үear, ɦaving enough Halloween candy crushh saga level
97 οn hand can Ƅe a challenge. In addition, уou may havе tߋ generate ǥood combinations tοo ցo the extent.
Ӏt iss gгeat to ƙnow tҺat many people arre tսrning
tо be ѕο competitive inn ɦaving their own faem that ѕome
even looκ fߋr Farmville cheats ʝust to ɡo ahead.


Feel free tօ visit myy web-site - candy crush saga booster
()

Anonymous said...

For most recent news you have to visit web
and on internet I found this web page as a best website for newest
updates.

My homepage - webpage ()

Anonymous said...

Also if you use too many keywords, your articles and content will not sound right
or make any sense and your content will not be of any help to anyone.

The Herald says that changes will be mainly reflected in search results pages,
rather than the main screen. Colors used in cosplay school uniforms are more refreshing such
white, blue, pink, but also some dark colors such
as purple, and black.

Review my web blog - alaska home mortgage

Anonymous said...

I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently.
I am quite sure I'll learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for
the next!

Take a look at my weblog :: rijschool utrecht

Anonymous said...

Chances are, you didn't think this is possible, unless of course you submit to a surgical procedure.

Large breasted women are pushed to seek ways to reduce their large breasts since they want to live an ordinary life.
So what would happen if a male duplicated the hormonal conditions of
an adolescent girl.

Take a look at my page - Beautiful Boobs - https://www.youtube.com/ -

Anonymous said...

Curcumin Benefits

This is wonderfull information :D

thanks Lowongan Pengumuman CPNS 2014

Anonymous said...

Good info. Lucky me I discovered your website by accident (stumbleupon).
I've book marked it for later!

Feel free to visit my site; web site ()

unsgu said...

all of which have been presented by this website was perfect, good appearance and cara besarkan penis artikelnya..penuh color and full of meaning ..

free minecraft gift codes said...

hello friends you can get free minecraft codes generator through this site..
free minecraft gift code generator

Unknown said...

Do you know of a animal, or think you're planning on purchasing one? Either manner, there's a large likelihood you visit your pet search. However, there will be things it's important to look outside for if you find yourself visiting animal shops. www.mypetshop.org

Unknown said...

However by means of among reliable packers and also movers you can make the particular automobiles of this specific factors as well as things secure as well as deterioration 100 % totally free. Through shifting companies your overall shifting may be flipped through disarray for you to satisfied shifting to some brand-new house.
Packers and Movers Hyderabad
Packers and Movers Pune
Packers and Movers Bangalore

Unknown said...

Set up the particular line on their own regarding unique technique avoiding mayhem. Moreover organise protected automobiles associated with data and also report. Just be sure you back-up record of the critical folder with Video games, put in writing Travel, Videos, and many others. Packers and Movers Mumbai
Packers and Movers Delhi
Packers and Movers Gurgaon

Unknown said...

Usually organize to help fill up the particular electric products throughout polyurethane foam and also successfully melded tons.
Packers and Movers Chennai
Packers and Movers Noida
Packers and Movers Navi Mumbai
Packers and Movers Thane
Packers and Movers Ghaziabad
Packers and Movers Faridabad

Unknown said...

thank you, this website design for home has provided very useful price kawasaki ninja knowledge for me and home design ideas others

sandeep said...

Amazing blog for pcs and mobiles files transfers was with in seconds thanks for the blog
shareit for ios

sandeep said...

Create groups and Instagram Pages with different accounts and send photos and videos easily
instagram for pc

Post a Comment