To celebrate National Poetry Month, several of us are sharing poetry with you on Thursdays in April. Today's poems are about something that I think everyone can relate to in some way, LOVE. I really like this poem because Billy Collins doesn't just speak about romantic love; he talks about falling in love with a wren, a miniature orange tree, and even soap. Be sure to check in with Kym, Kat, and Sarah for more poems of love today, and join us next Thursday for our final week of celebration of National Poetry Month. (And remember that any time is good for poetry, not just Thursdays in April!)
Aimless Love
by Billy Collins
This morning as I walked along the lakeshore,
I fell in love with a wren
and later in the day with a mouse
the cat had dropped under the dining room table.
In the shadows of an autumn evening,
I fell for a seamstress
still at her machine in the tailor’s window,
and later for a bowl of broth,
steam rising like smoke from a naval battle.
This is the best kind of love, I thought,
without recompense, without gifts,
or unkind words, without suspicion,
or silence on the telephone.
The love of the chestnut,
the jazz cap and one hand on the wheel.
No lust, no slam of the door –
the love of the miniature orange tree,
the clean white shirt, the hot evening shower,
the highway that cuts across Florida.
No waiting, no huffiness, or rancor –
just a twinge every now and then
for the wren who had built her nest
on a low branch overhanging the water
and for the dead mouse,
still dressed in its light brown suit.
But my heart is always propped up
in a field on its tripod,
ready for the next arrow.
After I carried the mouse by the tail
to a pile of leaves in the woods,
I found myself standing at the bathroom sink
gazing down affectionately at the soap,
so patient and soluble,
so at home in its pale green soap dish.
I could feel myself falling again
as I felt its turning in my wet hands
and caught the scent of lavender and stone.
I fell in love with a wren
and later in the day with a mouse
the cat had dropped under the dining room table.
In the shadows of an autumn evening,
I fell for a seamstress
still at her machine in the tailor’s window,
and later for a bowl of broth,
steam rising like smoke from a naval battle.
This is the best kind of love, I thought,
without recompense, without gifts,
or unkind words, without suspicion,
or silence on the telephone.
The love of the chestnut,
the jazz cap and one hand on the wheel.
No lust, no slam of the door –
the love of the miniature orange tree,
the clean white shirt, the hot evening shower,
the highway that cuts across Florida.
No waiting, no huffiness, or rancor –
just a twinge every now and then
for the wren who had built her nest
on a low branch overhanging the water
and for the dead mouse,
still dressed in its light brown suit.
But my heart is always propped up
in a field on its tripod,
ready for the next arrow.
After I carried the mouse by the tail
to a pile of leaves in the woods,
I found myself standing at the bathroom sink
gazing down affectionately at the soap,
so patient and soluble,
so at home in its pale green soap dish.
I could feel myself falling again
as I felt its turning in my wet hands
and caught the scent of lavender and stone.
====
Collins, Billy. "Aimless Love". Aimless Love, Random House, 2013.
You can read more about Billy Collins here.
You can read more about Billy Collins here.
This poem is such a lovely reminder that we should feel and share our love with the entire world, not just the people in our lives.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, Billy Collins... you make love so big and wide! (FYI, I fell in love with a Blue Jay on my walk this morning... his raucous calls seemed to be cheering Sherman on!)
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE Billy Collins. (See what I did there?) His poems always, always hit the right notes.
ReplyDeleteOh my. I feel this way so often. Billy Collins is the BEST!
ReplyDeleteI love all poems by Billy Collins! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI also don't think I've ever read a Billy Collins poem that I didn't enjoy!
Deletehappy sigh. Billy Collins makes me smile!
ReplyDeleteBilly Collins is a wonderful poet. I so enjoy his appreciation of the ordinary things in life.
ReplyDeletegorgeous! being in the moment and savoring that moment whatever that moment might be. I need to do this more.
ReplyDelete