Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Metamorphosis" by Billy Collins whimsically explores the transformative power of literature, specifically highlighting Franz Kafka's iconic capacity to alter reality through his writing. The poem starts by referencing Kafka's ability to turn a man into an insect with a single sentence, alluding to Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," where the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, famously wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant bug. Collins uses this premise to muse on the potential of words to enact change, not just on the page, but in the essence of one's being and perception of the world.

Collins expresses a desire for transformation, not out of misery, but as a longing for new experiences and perspectives. He imagines various forms of metamorphosis—becoming a river, a word in a dictionary, a goldfish, a lost mitten, a cord of split wood, or even the New York Public Library. Each of these transformations represents a departure from the human condition, offering different modes of existence and ways of interacting with the world.

The mention of "the weather" reminding the speaker of Kafka suggests a mood of introspection and possibly the feeling of alienation or existential pondering that often accompanies Kafka's works. Collins's choice of potential new forms emphasizes both the mundane and the fantastical, underscoring the idea that literature's power lies in its ability to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar.

Imagining oneself as the New York Public Library is particularly evocative, suggesting a transformation into a repository of knowledge, history, and human stories. This form of metamorphosis symbolizes an ultimate embrace of narrative diversity and the collective human experience, with "the pages of books turning inside me like butterflies," a beautiful metaphor for the life and movement that stories bring to our existence.

Collins's playful yet profound contemplation on change and the imaginative possibilities offered by literature invites readers to reflect on their own desires for transformation and the ways in which reading can fundamentally alter our engagement with the world. "Metamorphosis" celebrates the boundless creativity of the human mind and literature's enduring capacity to inspire wonder, empathy, and new ways of seeing.

POEM TEXT: https://highenergy-anna.livejournal.com/419234.html

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