Jennifer’s review of The Rain in Portugal > Likes and Comments

I'm not much of a poetry reader Jennifer, but I do love Billy Collins because I can understand what he's saying. His simple words and thoughts have impact, without me trying to understand his meaning. I guess what I'm saying is he's accessible....and real.

Exactly how I felt, Diane, thank you! It was such a relief when I read these, I had no idea what to expect. Jeannie and I read these together—it was good to have a buddy to enjoy them with. Are there other poets who you also find accessible? That’s what I was trying to say about Sharon Olds, and would love to know of another…

Mary Oliver.

Your sentiments about poetry echo my own, so when I received Water, Water: Poems by Billy Collins last year as Ann Patchett's monthly pick I assumed it would languish on my shelf. Thankfully I read the first poem before shelving it and then I was hooked! Julie G and now you have enticed me to read The Rain in Portugal. Thank you, also, for recommending Sharon Olds. Off to Thriftbooks now...

I too struggle with rating poetry, especially contemporary poems where I can't make head or tail or the rhyme-free, meter-free lyrics. I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Jennifer. Wonderful review!

Jennifer,
I suspected that his style (and background) would resonate with you. I love that it did, and here's the good news: he's incredibly prolific and this isn't even his best work!
I think you would also love Richard Blanco's poetry. Just saying.
xoxo

Isn’t he a delight, K!? Just to warn you, although Olds also writes poems that read like small stories, she is INTENSE. I love her, but not all collections equally, so if you haven’t already ordered from Thrift, I recommend her The Dead and the Living, which is all about relationships—so much so that they’re divided into:
Poems for the Dead
I. PUBLIC 
 II. PRIVATE 
Poems for the Living
 I. THE FAMILY 
 II. THE MEN 
 III. THE CHILDREN 
I think you’d get a lot from the richness, but just know the mood she creates is polar opposite of this…

Thank you for this info, Jennifer. I had put The Wellspring on my list, but I swapped it out for "The Dead and the Living." I love intense reading experiences.

Nice review, Jennifer. I am happy we read this one together.

Glad this one had a profound effect on you, Jennifer! If I enjoyed poetry, I would look this up now! 😁

Thanks, Rosh, I appreciate the validation, :). I found these easy to both understand and enjoy.

I enjoyed the poem you shared, Jennifer. I don't read poetry much at all, but if they were written like this one, I'd read and like it, too. Thanks for sharing.

Julie, thanks SO much for nudging me towards this poet, it was a perfect suggestion! And then just weeks later, Jeannie invited me to read this with her. Thank you both so much! I should put that in my review…

Oh, good, K—connecting with intense is necessary for Olds. I’m looking forward to hearing which poems particularly strike you in that collection…

Me, too, Jeannie❣️ Thanks so much for asking me along. 🫶🏻

Next time you’re in a bookstore, Jen, take a peek at a Billy Collins’ poem, just any random one from any collection, and see what you think…

Laysee, I’m glad you felt that way about the poem, that’s exactly why I decided to include it. They’re all so accessible and storylike. Many of them are funny.

Jennifer,
That's so sweet!
xoxo

Jennifer, I am so glad Collins' poems resonated with you, thank you very much for sharing this poem, which moved me to tears. Next time you are in the mood for reading poetry, please check out Julie's reviews on Raymond Carver's poetry - poems as well as her reviews on them are gold.

I don't read much poetry either but that passage sounds beautiful! Great review Jennifer 😊

I also enjoy Billy Collins, Jennifer. I'm like a broken record about how much I adore his "The Lanyard". I'm so glad Julie, our resident poet, was able to inspire you to read this collection.

I've read one Billy Collins collection and found a whole lot there that I liked too, Jennifer. I'm going to read him again - maybe it will be this one :) Lovely review!

Julie, these were perfect! Jeannie and I enjoyed sharing our faves with each other. Thank you 🤗

I will do that, Ilse—thanks for the lead! That poem moved me to tears as well, especially since I’m an only child. Thank you for sharing that it moved you.

Great review, Jennifer. I am coming acorss the poet for the first time but it looks intriguing through your observant eyes. It's been a while since I read poetry so it would be intriguing to pick this one up sometime soon. Thanks for sharing it :)

Wonderful review, Jen. I am not much of a poetry reader either, but I loved the poem. I am an only child, so it really resonated.

This collection sounds lovely, and I really enjoyed your fantastic review. The excerpt was wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Jennifer.

Tina wrote: "I don't read much poetry either but that passage sounds beautiful! Great review Jennifer 😊"

Thank you, Tina.I'm glad you enjoyed that poem, too :)

Robin wrote: "I also enjoy Billy Collins, Jennifer. I'm like a broken record about how much I adore his "The Lanyard". I'm so glad Julie, our resident poet, was able to inspire you to read this collection."

Oh, thanks, Robin — I'll have to find that one. I'm glad Julie sensed these would be a match for me, too, and glad that Jeannie asked me to read them with her. Which collection is "The Lanyard" in? Is it about summer camp?

I love Billy Collins for some of the same reasons you mention - most of all that he's very accessible. He did a great Facebook stream during Covid that kept me sane some weeks.

Candi wrote: "I've read one Billy Collins collection and found a whole lot there that I liked too, Jennifer. I'm going to read him again - maybe it will be this one :) Lovely review!"

Good to know, Candi, thank you. I'll take a look at your profile to see which one you read...

Gaurav wrote: "Great review, Jennifer. I am coming acorss the poet for the first time but it looks intriguing through your observant eyes. It's been a while since I read poetry so it would be intriguing to pick t..."

Gaurav, thanks for your lovely comment. I wonder — is poetry in a 2nd or 3rd language easier or more difficult than narrative to understand? Since these are narrative poems, perhaps they offer the best of both?

Linda wrote: "Wonderful review, Jen. I am not much of a poetry reader either, but I loved the poem. I am an only child, so it really resonated."

Something else we have in common, Linda! And I meant to ask you in person about Westchester, but the exhibits were distracting. It's a whole thing, isn't it, being an only?

Kimber wrote: "This collection sounds lovely, and I really enjoyed your fantastic review. The excerpt was wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Jennifer."

Thanks so much, Kimber. He's playful, even when moving, and sometimes just made me laugh. I think you'd enjoy his work.

Alena wrote: "I love Billy Collins for some of the same reasons you mention - most of all that he's very accessible. He did a great Facebook stream during Covid that kept me sane some weeks."

Oh, I wish I'd known that, Alena, that's cool. Do you have a favorite collection?

Jennifer wrote: "Alena wrote: "I love Billy Collins for some of the same reasons you mention - most of all that he's very accessible. He did a great Facebook stream during Covid that kept me sane some weeks."

Oh, ..."

I don't really. I just know I can go to his work whenever the mood strikes.

Alena wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Alena wrote: "I love Billy Collins for some of the same reasons you mention - most of all that he's very accessible. He did a great Facebook stream during Covid that kept me sane s..."

That's a wonderful feeling, Alena, to be able to turn to an author for a specific mood. I have a short-list. Thanks for sharing :)

I’m not really into poetry Jennifer, but Only Child is beautiful! Excellent review.

YIKES!!!! I was determined not to add a new book this morning Jenn, now look what you've made me do!! ...................and poetry!!!!! I'm with Maureen, I'm not into poetry either, despite numerous efforts, as I really hate missing out. BUT, the Only Child poem you shared is something I can understand, follow, and appreciate. So added - thank you and great review 🤗🎈

I’m so glad you liked it, too, Maureen. It’s not an exception!

Mark, no need to fear here! You can read one a day, one a week, and it will give you joy. These are FUN! I see these only adding laughter and depth to your days, providing energy rather than depleting 🤗🥰
Really great to see you in my feed, dear man.

Good morning, my friend. I'm so glad you love this collection! Collins is wonderfully accessible. He's a poet I love and sometimes forget when thinking about my favorites. I like to think of him as a gateway into the mystery of verse.

He’s a great gateway poet, Lisa, that’s true! Had I read him sooner, I probably would’ve sold a few to young people at BN. Do you have a favorite collection or poem? I read this with Jeannie and she posted another favorite that was hers, too

You've captured its essence wonderfully, Jennifer!

Thanks, Kevin! If you haven’t read his poetry, he’ll make you laugh!

Good morning, Jennifer. I love many. Here's one I used to read occasionally to my oldest, non-morning person that she is, when getting her up:

Morning
Why do we bother with the rest of the day,
the swale of the afternoon,
the sudden dip into evening,

then night with his notorious perfumes,
his many-pointed stars?

This is the best—
throwing off the light covers,
feet on the cold floor,
and buzzing around the house on espresso—

maybe a splash of water on the face,
a palmful of vitamins—
but mostly buzzing around the house on espresso,

dictionary and atlas open on the rug,
the typewriter waiting for the key of the head,
a cello on the radio,

and, if necessary, the windows—
trees fifty, a hundred years old
out there,
heavy clouds on the way
and the lawn steaming like a horse
in the early morning.

As you know, I am a morning person and I love how Collins captures and shares my feelings here.

Needless to say, while she is a poetry lover, she just wanted me to get out of her room and leave her alone. 😆

Keep asking and I will keep adding. 🤣🤣🤣
There are so many to love.

Interesting. I never thought about the painful solitude when a parent dies. I'm still a "poem-avoidance" human. I just don't get 95% of them(if not more). Glad you fou d your poet!

Lisa wrote: "Good morning, Jennifer. I love many. Here's one I used to read occasionally to my oldest, non-morning person that she is, when getting her up:

Morning
Why do we bother with the rest of the day,
th..."

Wow, Lisa, that was so above and beyond, I’m touched and hope others are, too. Great poem. No need for more, that’s just perfect 💕

Barbara wrote: "Interesting. I never thought about the painful solitude when a parent dies. I'm still a "poem-avoidance" human. I just don't get 95% of them(if not more). Glad you fou d your poet!"

So, even this poem didn't do it for you, Barbara? Yes, being an only child is such a specific thing. I hope my mom stays around for a loooong time...

I don’t tend towards poetry because it intimidates me. I’ve read one book of prose poetry that I enjoyed and this sounds similar. Maybe someday I’ll be ready to go outside my comfort zone! Excellent review!!