Saw Billy Collins' sold out Arts & Lectures reading, ask me what you will.

[HuckleB]

That's 2,776 folks paying anywhere from $18 to $125 + to see a poetry reading at Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon.

Amazing!

Collins' reading was beautiful and, of course, funny as hell.

[seaglass]

1. I love Billy Collins.

I had to memorize a poem for a Lit class last year and I chose Nostalgia.

Sorry, no questions but I am jealous.:-)

[HuckleB]

8. Sweet! Have you read any Tony Hoagland?

2. Billy Collins

is one of the nicest poets I've met. Very unpretentious. Being a poet myself, I've run across a few. A lot of them are kind of snobbish or reserved, but Billy Collins is just flat out genuinely friendly.

[HuckleB]

3. No doubt about that.

I've run across my share of "reserved" poets teaching workshops and seminars. I've also run across many without pretentions, but Collins may lead the pack in living as a poet fully, allowing his genuine humanity to show in all its true kinks and humor.

Interestingly, I don't enjoy sitting down to read Collins books, but I love to hear him read his stuff. I suppose his poems are truly music that must be played to be appreciated, at least by me.

[maxanne]

4. Lucky you

HuckleB - there's something so magical about Collins reading his own poems. I'm envious, but happy for you!

[HuckleB]

6. Yes, I do feel lucky.

The whole Arts and Lectures series makes me feel lucky. Next up is Matt Groening, and then it's Ian McEwan. The fact that the organization does so much to support literacy and reading just tops it all off.

[bobbieinok]

5. I love DU......thanks for this info

I'd never heard of this poet. Found him and the poem Nostalgia on the internet, read and printed it.

Any other suggestions of poems by him?

[HuckleB]

7. I enjoyed almost everything in "The Art of Drowning."

However, the best book for starters is probably "Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems."

But the best way to get into Collins is through the CD Audiobook titled "The Best Cigarette."