Poetry may not always be easy to understand. In most cases it is not due to the author's writing skills and their use of literary devices. Introduction to Poetry, by Billy Collins, demonstrates that one should enjoy the happiness in life and not simply rush through life to find happiness. Collins emphasizes the theme by using many literary devices. Specifically, he uses a series of comparisons such as metaphors. Not only this, but he also writes with different tones throughout the whole poem. It is obvious that there is a tone change in Introduction to Poetry. The poem states, "I ask them to take a poem / and hold it up to the light / like a color slide" (1-3). Billy Collins introduces the poem with an earnest tone. He does this to catch …show more content…
For example, the poem states, "or walk inside the poem / and feel the walls for a light switch" (7-8). This part makes it seem as if the poem is a human and owns a room. Billy Collins wants the readers to go inside the poem's room and turn the lights on. This is a positive connotation because when lights are on, the room is bright and full of energy. This is a metaphor comparing a well lit room to happiness. This ties back into the theme because Collins wants one to enjoy the happiness in life. Another comparison that is being used is when the poem states, "I want them to waterski / across the surface of a poem" (9-10). The use of a metaphor is being used when comparing waterski to reading a poem. When waterskiing, one skims the surface of water, but when reading a poem, one tends to skim through the words. The two metaphors stated above are opposites to each other. The first example describes what the author wants one to do and the second example describes what he doesn't want one to do. He wants the readers to read the poem, enjoy the poem, and then find the deeper meaning of it. He compares the poem to a living object and this literary skill of comparisons allows the audience to understand the poem in a different point of