Meeting Billy Collins
Me: Hello [I know you don't know me, but I know you because I've read your poems and therefore my buggy eyes are going to leap off my face and attack you! I will also pant and drool a little bit.]
BC: You must be from Iowa [You are pathetic.]
Me: Yes! [I am so lame that I can only talk in monosyllables! But I can waggle my head!]
BC: I could tell. [You. Are. Pathetic. And I am weary.]
--Signs book
Me: Thank you. [There! I did it! Two consecutive syllables!]
BC: Next? [They don't pay me enough.]
Me: Graaaggbble [Exit, gnawing my fist.]
BC: You must be from Iowa [You are pathetic.]
Me: Yes! [I am so lame that I can only talk in monosyllables! But I can waggle my head!]
BC: I could tell. [You. Are. Pathetic. And I am weary.]
--Signs book
Me: Thank you. [There! I did it! Two consecutive syllables!]
BC: Next? [They don't pay me enough.]
Me: Graaaggbble [Exit, gnawing my fist.]
I enjoy the self-deprecating humor - and respect the "tech" artistry. I also wonder - would we really want to "pedestal" writers (even BC) as our JV & Varsity feeder systems do professional athletes - whose clay feet so often come to light? Perhaps we need such perspectives - perhaps not.
ReplyDeleteAs always, you make me think, James. The trouble with pedelstalling (Look! We invented a verb!) anyone is that we can't see the clay feet (that we ALL have) while gazing upward from below.
ReplyDeleteWhen I met BC, I was mildly surprised that he was a bit snarky in some of his comments. Afterwards I thought: But of course! He's a funny guy, and humor is often found on the edge of snark. It comes from the sardonic, tilted view he frequently uses to make his poetry prickle.
I think it's brilliant to unpack a 10-second interaction with this level of insight.
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