Nine Horses

Nine Horses is a collection of poems by Billy Collins published in 2002.  Collins is known to many as the Poet Laureate of the United States 2001-2003.

Reading a book of poetry is a different experience, at least for me, than reading either fiction or non-fiction.  Poetry requires a slower pace and I cannot read a book of poetry cover to cover.  Poems seem to need a chance to nestle down and sink in.

Although I would not hesitate to recommend any of the collections by Collins I am particularly fond of this volume for two reasons.  First, it was a gift to me last fall from a former student.  She had it autographed in 2005 when she went to a book signing.  Since I had retired she held onto this wonderful book until we crossed paths once again.  Secondly, Nine Horses contains several poems that are now my favorites by Collins.

The Literary Life is an excellent example of Collins work.  He begins a search for information on a long forgotten poet and ends in the kitchen "taking in the silvery toaster, the bowl of lemons, and the white cat, looking as if he had just finished his autobiography."  I love the tone and imagery.  I know just how that cat must have looked.  I can feel and see what the poet felt and saw.  That is what poetry is all about. 

In previous posts I have mentioned my appreciation of thankfulness.  Collin's poem As If to Demonstrate an Eclipse touches that part of me.  I now think of his words when I gaze up into the slice of universe that is our night sky.   Beginning with creating a model of an eclipse using an orange, a blue and white marble and an aspirin we read through many stages with the poet.  There is a sense of creation, then praise, then gratitude. 

Although I have reviewed Nine Horses any book of Collins work is worthy of reading, study and introspect.

The Last Day of Another Year!

Today is the last day of the year, for me a day of retrospect, introspect and goal setting.  Although I often refer to my year long plan as "New Year's Resolutions".  In fact they are a plan for the next 365 days of my life.  Some of my goals can be accomplished and then put aside while others will be in progress for most of the year. 

This is also the time when I really look at my life and ask "Is this who I really want to be?"  So I bring you a short, and book related list of my goals for next year. 

I want to read more, and better.  Although I have read a lot this month I normally only really read 3 to 5 books per month.  I would like to step that up.  Timing will be the issue.  I also have other things on my list that I cannot do while reading.  Quality.  I want to bring even more quality into my reading experience,  There are many books that have been on my "to read" list for years.  I want to get some of those titles onto the list of books I have read.

I want to promote the books I love.  Beginning this blog started that process but I want to continue recommending books to you as well as find new ways to promote books.  One thought I am playing with is to provide books to a class or a school.  Maybe an assisted living facility would like the books I don't plan to read again.

I want to read every book ever written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Umberto Eco, in English of course.  I have read books by each of these remarkable writers but want more.  I believe you gain a new insight when you have read all the works a writer has created. 

Lastly, I want to read more poetry in the coming year.  As a teen I read so very much poetry, but over time I moved away from it.  It doesn't make sense, it is much quicker to read several poems than to sit down and read a book.  My first will be to read an autographed copy of Nine Horses by Billy Collins from cover to cover.  Tucked inside is a moving letter from one of my former students about the impact I had on her life, I will read that again before this year ends.

What are your reading goals for 2012?  I hope you have a few precious moments to read either tonight or tomorrow to start your year off right. 

Happy New Years!