Book description
The Trouble with Poetry is the new collection from probably the most
popular poet in the entire planet, and finds everyone's favourite
contemporary Pre-Socratic in as funny and wise (and sometimes joyfully
silly) form as ever. Billy Collins's tone is inimitable. Drawled and
knowing, yet without a hint of world-weariness or cynicism, he
fearlessly addresses the reader as friend and intimate -- and comrade,
inviting them to square up to the various collective crises of the bald
ape in the 21st century. Collins remains the only poet who can write
about the next-to-nothing of our lives, the little boredoms, habits and
frustrations of our daily and domestic existence, revealing their true
importance and meaning -- and demonstrating that the same historical and
cosmic forces bear upon them as upon the great events of the age. 'Billy
Collins is one of my favourite poets in the world' Carol Ann Duffy 'I'd
follow this man's mind anywhere' Michael Donaghy 'Billy Collins's poems
describe all the worlds that are and were and some others besides' John
Updike
Billy Collins is the author of six books of poetry including, most
recently, Nine Horses. Collins's poetry has appeared in
anthologies, textbooks and a variety of publications in the UK and the
US, including Harper's and the New Yorker, and a
selection of poems, Taking Off Emily's Dickinson's Clothes, was
published in 2000. Poet Laureate of the United States for 2001-2003,
Collins lives with his wife in northern Westchester County, New York.
