Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Litany" by Billy Collins stands out as a masterful example of contemporary poetry's ability to blend humor, wit, and deep emotional resonance. The poem starts with an epigraph from Jacques Crickillon, which Collins uses as a launching pad to explore and expand upon the themes of identity, relationship dynamics, and the poetic imagination's boundless nature. Through a series of metaphorical declarations and denials, Collins crafts a litany that is both a playful meditation on love and a subtle commentary on the nature of poetic expression.

The repeated line "You are the bread and the knife, the crystal goblet and the wine" establishes a direct address to the poem's subject, imbuing these objects with symbolic weight. The bread and knife, and the goblet and wine, suggest sustenance, nourishment, and the rituals that bind people together, implying a deep and essential relationship between the speaker and the addressee. These metaphors are elevated by the additional images of "the dew on the morning grass" and "the burning wheel of the sun," which convey freshness, vitality, and the cyclical nature of existence.

However, Collins introduces a twist with the use of negation, stating what the addressee is not: "However, you are not the wind in the orchard, the plums on the counter, or the house of cards." This shift not only injects humor into the poem but also serves to delineate the boundaries of the addressee's identity, suggesting that while the subject may embody certain universal qualities, they are not all-encompassing. The assertion that "there is just no way you are the pine-scented air" adds a playful firmness to the speaker's delineation of identity, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and respecting individuality within the context of a relationship.

As the poem progresses, Collins turns the focus inward, proclaiming "I am the sound of rain on the roof...the shooting star, the evening paper blowing down an alley," and so forth. This self-referential section broadens the poem's scope, highlighting the speaker's own complex identity and the rich tapestry of experiences and sensations that define him. The juxtaposition of these self-ascribed images with the earlier metaphors used to describe the addressee creates a dynamic interplay between the selves of the speaker and the subject, underscoring the poem's exploration of relational identity.

The closing lines of "Litany" circle back to the initial declaration, reaffirming the addressee's role as "the bread and the knife" while clarifying the speaker's separate identity: "But don't worry, I am not the bread and the knife." This return to the beginning serves to reinforce the poem's central themes of connection and differentiation, suggesting a relationship that is both complementary and distinct.

Collins's "Litany" is a poetic exploration of love's complexities, utilizing metaphor and negation to probe the depths of intimacy and individuality. The poem's tone, oscillating between earnestness and jest, invites readers to reflect on their own relationships and the myriad ways in which we attempt to articulate our understanding of ourselves and others. Through its inventive structure and language, "Litany" exemplifies the power of poetry to capture the ineffable qualities of human connection, making it a memorable and thought-provoking piece in Billy Collins's oeuvre.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=41391

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