Billy Collins

A latest volume of 50 poetic works by the former U.S. Poet Laureate includes poignant and lighthearted pieces on intimate topics ranging from love and death to solitude and aging. 50,000 first printing.

Poems

Horoscopes for the Dead

Melody Izard

I try to find poets I like who pick dirt from their fingernails and compare it with the moon. I read of despair and myth and omens in the middle atmosphere. But I blink and am less than ambitions about finishing another line - much less going on to poem number two. I would never even consider reading the poem aloud to the Christmas meeting of my book group. But Billy. Sweet balding Billy. I can always find a poem that makes me smile. And then .... wait a minute ... there is some hint of the scent of myth and omens if you can look (or sniff - if I plan to stick with the sense of smell) deeper into the languishing lab's eyes or hear, (OK - I guess I have no intention of being consistent) past the Marco Polo playing children in the motel pool. Yes Billy lights the poetry path for me.

Horoscopes for the Dead Poems

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