Billy Collins is a most charming poet in very many ways. I am in awe of, especially, his sense of humor that is not easily frightened and the precise and microscopic attention he gives to everyday happenings while picking great meanings in them. Horoscopes for the Dead, too, like his earlier books, has a wide spread of themes, clear and precise language, and meticulousness of vision.

In the two poems that carry the title of the book, the voice is woeful, ironic, and showing a sense of wonder, with the poet opening the newspaper and finding another person’s disappearance “for good” as he puts it. Even for this, he is brave enough to insert his witticism. “Some days I am reminded that today // will not be a wildly romantic time for you”

Several of the poems touch the idea of death in some way while reflecting on the poet’s own impermanence. Collins is also picking on himself every so often with a joyful self-deprecation. In “Memento Mori” he begins with, “It doesn’t take much to remind me // what a mayfly I am, // what a soap bubble floating over the children’s party.”

In ‘Cemetery Ride,” in the fourth section, he is playful again riding his bike, thinking he take those in the ground for a ride in his wire basket.

The turns and twists a poem takes can surprise, entertain or touch the reader. His subjects vary greatly such as chairs no one sits in, hangover, Florida, winter, Hell. thieves, roses, watercoloring, creatures etc.

The book is in 129 pages, and for a poetry collection, is weighty with four parts and 53 poems. Throughout the book, Collins’s ear for the music in words and his skill with images startles, amuses, and moves the reader.

appreciating the precise, simple, yet powerful style of a seasoned poet

the poet's cutting sense of humor and his precision of attention to the minute things another person would hardly notice

read more poetry like that of Billy Collins.

good about life and the observation of it.

is Billy Collins, a two-time poet-laureate of USA, and twelve collections of poetry. Horoscopes for the Dead is his ninth volume.

as always with Billy Collins's poetry, I enjoyed the poems in the book greatly

If you wish to see Billy Collins speak to an audience and listen to his reading his five poems, here's a TED video.
https://www.ted.com/talks/billy_collins_everyday_moments_caught_in_time

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Created Apr 09, 2018 at 2:26pm • Submit your own review...