Poetry Founded in 1912 by Harriet Monroe
Home
Magazine
Web Exclusive
Letters
Books
About


Featured Poem
Rule


Billy Collins is the editor of Poetry 180 and 180 More, two anthologies of contemporary poetry. A new collection of his own work, The Trouble With Poetry, will be published by Random House in the fall.

Email a friend >>
Printable version >>
Today
by Billy Collins

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.

 
Current Issue
Past Issues
Historical Index
Past Issues

 SEARCH
 
 

 Copyright © The Poetry Foundation    Privacy Policy/Terms of Use    Contact