'Marginalia' by Billy Collins


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Sometimes the notes are ferocious,
skirmishes against the author
raging along the borders of every page
in tiny black script.
If I could just get my hands on you,
Kierkegaard, or Conor Cruise O'Brien,
they seem to say,
I would bolt the door and beat some logic into your head.Other comments are more offhand, dismissive -
"Nonsense." "Please!" "HA!!" -
that kind of thing.
I remember once looking up from my reading,
my thumb as a bookmark,
trying to imagine what the person must look like
why wrote "Don't be a ninny"
alongside a paragraph in The Life of Emily Dickinson.Students are more modest
needing to leave only their splayed footprints
along the shore of the page.
One scrawls "Metaphor" next to a stanza of Eliot's.
Another notes the presence of "Irony"
fifty times outside the paragraphs of A Modest Proposal.Or they are fans who cheer from the empty bleachers,
Hands cupped around their mouths.
"Absolutely," they shout
to Duns Scotus and James Baldwin.
"Yes." "Bull's-eye." "My man!"
Check marks, asterisks, and exclamation points
rain down along the sidelines.And if you have managed to graduate from college
without ever having written "Man vs. Nature"
in a margin, perhaps now
is the time to take one step forward.We have all seized the white perimeter as our own
and reached for a pen if only to show
we did not just laze in an armchair turning pages;
we pressed a thought into the wayside,
planted an impression along the verge.Even Irish monks in their cold scriptoria
jotted along the borders of the Gospels
brief asides about the pains of copying,
a bird signing near their window,
or the sunlight that illuminated their page-
anonymous men catching a ride into the future
on a vessel more lasting than themselves.And you have not read Joshua Reynolds,
they say, until you have read him
enwreathed with Blake's furious scribbling.Yet the one I think of most often,
the one that dangles from me like a locket,
was written in the copy of Catcher in the Rye
I borrowed from the local library
one slow, hot summer.
I was just beginning high school then,
reading books on a davenport in my parents' living room,
and I cannot tell you
how vastly my loneliness was deepened,
how poignant and amplified the world before me seemed,
when I found on one pageA few greasy looking smears
and next to them, written in soft pencil-
by a beautiful girl, I could tell,
whom I would never meet-
"Pardon the egg salad stains, but I'm in love."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Marginalia: A Masterpiece by Billy Collins

Have you ever read something that made you feel like you were in a dream? Something that felt so vivid and real, yet so abstract and intangible? That's how I felt reading Billy Collins' "Poetry, Marginalia".

In this poem, Collins takes us on a journey through the written word, exploring the ways in which we interact with and interpret poetry. He weaves together themes of memory, imagination, and the power of language to create something truly breathtaking.

The Power of Marginalia

The poem begins with a simple scene: a reader sitting down with a book of poems, pen in hand. But from there, Collins takes us on a journey through the reader's mind, as they make notes and annotations in the margins of the book.

Collins explores the power of marginalia as a way of engaging with poetry. He writes:

We have little choice but to lean on these makeshifts,
which are not even shadows of what we have lost,
images of our beloved dead,
or the absolute truth of the life to come.

Here, Collins suggests that marginalia are a way of grappling with the elusive nature of poetry. We use them as a way of holding onto something that we can't quite grasp, whether that be memories of loved ones or the mysteries of the afterlife.

But Collins also suggests that marginalia are not enough to fully capture the power of poetry. They are merely "makeshifts", imperfect attempts to understand something that is ultimately beyond our comprehension.

The Power of Memory

As Collins moves through the poem, he also explores the role of memory in our relationship with poetry. He writes:

And when the poem is finished,
the reader is left holding
the thin paper wings
of a moth in the palm of the hand.

Here, Collins uses metaphor to suggest that poems are fragile, delicate things, much like the wings of a moth. But he also suggests that they have the power to transport us back in time, to memories and experiences that we thought were lost forever.

He goes on to explore this idea in more detail, writing:

And the reader who has been practicing
this art for so long
feels a little tug,
a modest quiver in the chest.

This "modest quiver" is a powerful moment, as the reader suddenly finds themselves transported back in time to a long-forgotten memory. Collins suggests that this is the power of poetry, to connect us with our past and to bring it into the present.

The Power of Imagination

Finally, Collins explores the role of imagination in our relationship with poetry. He writes:

And the reader is carried by this voice
into a place where words
lie shimmering in pools
and all around the glow of language is reflected
on leaves and water,
on the eyes of deer
and on the wings of butterflies.

Here, Collins creates a vivid image of a landscape that exists only in the imagination. He suggests that poetry has the power to transport us to this magical world, where words are like shimmering pools and the beauty of language is reflected in everything around us.

He goes on to suggest that this world is not limited to the imagination, but is in fact a part of the physical world as well:

And this is where the reader goes
when the light has dimmed
and the book has been closed.
Where the reader goes
when the only sound is the sigh
of the night train passing through the valley.

Collins suggests that this world is not just a figment of our imagination, but is a real place that we can access through the power of poetry. And he suggests that this world exists all around us, in the sigh of a passing train or the rustle of leaves in the wind.

Conclusion

Overall, "Poetry, Marginalia" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It explores the power of language to connect us with the past, the present, and the imaginary world of our own creation. It reminds us that poetry is a powerful tool for exploring the mysteries of life, and that even though we may never fully understand it, we can still find meaning and beauty in the words on the page.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Marginalia: A Masterpiece of Literary Artistry

Billy Collins, the former Poet Laureate of the United States, is known for his witty and accessible poetry that often explores the mundane aspects of everyday life. One of his most celebrated works is "Poetry Marginalia," a poem that delves into the relationship between readers and the written word. In this article, we will analyze and explain the nuances of this masterpiece of literary artistry.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a book that he has borrowed from the library. As he reads, he notices the marginalia left by a previous reader. The speaker is fascinated by these notes, which he describes as "a kind of poetry" in their own right. He goes on to imagine the person who wrote them, picturing them as a "lonely soul" who found solace in the act of writing in the margins.

The poem then takes a turn as the speaker begins to reflect on the act of reading itself. He notes that reading is often a solitary activity, and that the act of writing in the margins is a way for readers to connect with others who have read the same book. He imagines a community of readers, all connected by their shared experience of a particular text.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more introspective, reflecting on his own relationship with poetry. He notes that he often reads poetry with a pen in hand, underlining and circling words that resonate with him. He describes this act as a way of "marking the spot where the lightning struck," a way of capturing the moment when a poem speaks to him on a deep level.

The poem then takes a surprising turn as the speaker imagines a future in which books have become obsolete. He describes a world in which people no longer read physical books, but instead consume literature through digital devices. In this world, there is no longer any need for marginalia, as there are no margins to write in.

The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the power of poetry to connect people across time and space. He notes that even in a world without physical books, the words of poets like Shakespeare and Keats will continue to resonate with readers. He imagines a future in which people will still find solace in the act of reading, even if it is through a digital device rather than a physical book.

One of the most striking aspects of "Poetry Marginalia" is the way in which it explores the act of reading as a communal experience. The poem suggests that the act of writing in the margins is a way for readers to connect with others who have read the same book. This idea is particularly poignant in a world where so much of our reading is done in isolation, through digital devices that offer little opportunity for interaction with other readers.

Another notable aspect of the poem is the way in which it celebrates the act of reading itself. The speaker describes reading as a way of connecting with the world around us, of finding meaning in the mundane aspects of everyday life. He notes that even in a world where physical books no longer exist, the act of reading will continue to be a source of solace and connection for readers.

Finally, the poem is notable for its use of language and imagery. Collins is known for his accessible and often humorous style, and "Poetry Marginalia" is no exception. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions and clever turns of phrase, such as when the speaker describes marginalia as "a kind of poetry" in its own right. These elements make the poem both engaging and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationship with literature and the act of reading.

In conclusion, "Poetry Marginalia" is a masterpiece of literary artistry that explores the relationship between readers and the written word. Through its celebration of the act of reading and its exploration of the communal nature of literature, the poem offers a powerful reminder of the enduring power of poetry to connect us with the world around us. Whether read in a physical book or on a digital device, the words of poets like Billy Collins will continue to inspire and resonate with readers for generations to come.

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