I just checked out Billy Collins latest poetry book. It’s titled The Trouble with Poety of course. The centerpiece poem comes on the second to the last page. I won’t quote the whole thing here for these parts are sufficient:<\/p>\n
the trouble with poetry is
\nthat it encourages the writing of more poetry
\nmore guppies crowding the fish tank,
\nmore baby rabbits
\nhopping out of their mothers into the dewy grass<\/p>\nAnd how will it ever end?
\nunless the day finally arrives
\nwhen we have compared everything in the world
\nto everything else in the world,<\/p>\nPoetry fills me with joy
\nand I rise like a feather in the wind.
\nPoetry fills me with sorrow
\nand I sink like a chain flung from a bridge.<\/p>\nBut mostly poetry fills me
\nwith the urge to write poetry<\/p><\/blockquote>\nI thought how fun (and possibly true) it might be to write this about other arts and disciplines…<\/p>\n
the trouble with music is
\nthat it encourages the playing of more music
\nmore songbirds fluttering and chirping brightly
\npooping on your windshield<\/p>\nAnd how will it ever end?
\nunless the day finally arrives
\nwhen we have played every note four bars
\nbefore, after, and with every other note<\/p>\nMusic fills me with hope
\nand I rise high over the world on the wings of Icarus
\nMusic fills me with despair
\nand I hit the ground hard as the curtain closes<\/p>\nBut mostly music fills me
\nwith the urge to play music<\/p><\/blockquote>\nOr try this one:<\/p>\n
the trouble with theology is
\nthat it encourage the writing of more theology
\nmore chickens crowding the roost
\nmore crossing of the sea
\nto make one more disciple<\/p>\nAnd how will it ever end?
\nunless the day finally arrives
\nwhen we have measured the Trinity
\ndown to the last parsec<\/p>\nTheology fills me with understanding
\nand the foundations of my city are laid deep
\nTheology fills me with confusion
\nand I despise my brothers<\/p>\nBut mostly theology fills me
\nwith the urge to write theology<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAnd to end on a lighter note:<\/p>\n
the trouble with cooking is
\nthat it encourages more cooking
\nmore fish out of the ocean
\nmore rabbits hopping onto your plate<\/p>\nAnd how will it ever end?
\nunless the day finally arrives
\nwhen every taste is paired with every other
\nlike Elk sausage in blueberry sauce
\nthat was quite delicious
\nat the French place last night<\/p>\nCooking fills me with joy
\nand I rise like a savory aroma
\nCooking fills me with frustration
\nand I hit the fan above the range
\ndistracted by the cost of ingredients
\nthe mountain of dishes<\/p>\nBut mostly cooking fills me…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
That was fun!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I just checked out Billy Collins latest poetry book. It’s titled The Trouble with Poety of course. The centerpiece poem comes on the second to the last page. I won’t quote the whole thing here for these parts are sufficient: the trouble with poetry is that it encourages the writing of more poetry more guppies … <\/p>\n