Litany by Billy Collins: an Analysis

Billy Collins, who used to be the United States Poet Laureate, is famous for his poetry that's easy to get into and often pretty funny. His poem "Litany" is a great example of his style. It's got humor, affection, and a bit of a playful jab at traditional poetry. The poem riffs off a line from Belgian poet Jacques Crickillon, turning into a kind of funny take on love poems, where Collins digs into the weirdness and messiness of human relationships.

The Structure and Tone of "Litany"

"Litany" kicks off with a quote from Crickillon: "You are the bread and the knife, / The crystal goblet and the wine..." This sets up Collins to start his playful imitation. He adds lines like "You are the dew on the morning grass / and the burning wheel of the sun." The poem's structure uses a lot of repetition with the phrase "You are," which gives it a nice rhythm and makes it sound almost like a chant.

Collins's tone is both loving and funny. He takes big, fancy metaphors that you often find in love poems and mixes them with everyday stuff. This creates a kind of funny contrast. For example, he says, "You are the white apron of the baker, / and the marsh birds suddenly in flight." By mixing the ordinary with the poetic, he makes everyday things seem special while also bringing down the highfalutin stuff a notch.

Metaphor and Meaning

The heart of "Litany" is its metaphors. Collins plays around with this classic poetic tool, both respecting and poking fun at it. The poem is basically a bunch of metaphors comparing the loved one to various objects and scenes. But Collins’s metaphors are often over-the-top and funny, like "You are the fish, the moon, the evening paper," making us think about how sincere or useful these comparisons really are.

The poem takes a turn when Collins starts talking about himself: "And I am the sound of rain on the roof." This changes the usual one-sided praise in love poems and hints at a more equal relationship. By comparing himself to things like "the moon in the trees" and "the empty chair," Collins is suggesting that in a relationship, both people are complex and deserve poetic metaphors.

Humor and Satire

One of the coolest things about "Litany" is its humor. Collins uses exaggeration and silliness to poke fun at love poem traditions. The metaphors get more and more ridiculous, with lines like "You are the cat in the window and the birds in the trees." This playful silliness helps bring down the lofty pretensions of typical romantic verse, making the poem feel more down-to-earth and relatable.

Collins’s satire is gentle but effective. He’s not making fun of the feelings behind romantic poetry, just the formulaic ways those feelings are often expressed. By doing this, he helps us appreciate the real emotions behind the metaphors while also seeing the limits and clichés that can sometimes make them feel less impactful.

The Universal and the Personal

"Litany" talks about the universal experience of love and the struggle to put it into words. Collins's playful style reminds us that love is both deep and silly, sacred and everyday. The humor and warmth in the poem make it a celebration of the messy, complicated nature of human relationships, showing that no single metaphor can fully capture a person or a relationship.

At the same time, "Litany" feels very personal. Collins’s use of specific, often quirky imagery creates a sense of closeness, inviting readers to see their own relationships in the poem. By using both grand and everyday comparisons, he suggests that love is found in both the big and small moments of life.

In the end, Billy Collins's "Litany" is a great example of how poetry can be both fun and meaningful. Through clever metaphors, humor, and satire, the poem challenges traditional romantic expressions while celebrating the beauty and absurdity of love. Collins’s knack for mixing affection with wit makes "Litany" a memorable and thought-provoking piece that resonates on many levels. By making us laugh at the clichés of love poetry, Collins also encourages us to find new, genuine ways to express our deepest feelings.

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