Introduction to Poetry

The poem we totally read at the beginning of the year. :) I think this poem is a very nice representation of where we all were at the beginning of the year, and our understanding of the poem was pretty accurate except now we have more experience. We were once at the point that this poem represents: trying to "beat" the meaning out of a poem or asking it to confess.

"I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with a rope
and torture a confession out of it."

I think the speaker of the poem is a teacher trying to teach his/her students how to read a poem. The teacher is trying to convince the students that a poem is beauty that can be percieved in many different ways. But eager, the students rip open the poem and try to get the one meaning out of it.
The poet set up his poem in 7 stanzas, with no set line numbers in each one. He has on line that is left by itself:
"or press an ear against its hive."
I think he did this since it's the only imagery that requires sound. By leaving this line by itself, it's almost as if it's quiet before you read this line, and then you hear the buzzing.

Although billy Collins doesn't use a rhyme scheme, I loved the imagery and personification he put into this poem. Waterskiing, feeling for a light switch, watching a mouse find it's way out -- it's so vivid and fun. :) I thoroughly enjoyed this poem; even more so now that it's the second time I've looked at it.