National Poetry Series
1 appearances
Billy Collins
ビリー・コリンズ
Birī Korinsu
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1941-03-22 （New York City (Manhattan), New York, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Roman Catholic
- Residence History
- Queens, New York → White Plains, New York → Westchester County, New York → Winter Park, Florida → Southampton, New York
Career
- Occupations
- Poet, Author, Professor
- Active Years
- 1968-
- Affiliations
- Lehman College (CUNY), CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies (Advisory Board), Sarah Lawrence College (visiting faculty), Stony Brook Southampton (SUNY) faculty, Alaska Quarterly Review (editorial board)
- Memberships
- American Academy of Arts and Letters (member)
- Influenced By
- Karl Shapiro, Howard Nemerov, Reed Whittemore, Beat Generation poets
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Holy Cross | — | English | BA | 1959–1963 | United States |
| University of California, Riverside | — | Romantic poetry (doctoral studies) | MA, PhD | — | United States |
College of the Holy Cross
English
Degree:
BA
Period:
1959–1963
Year of Graduation:
1963
Country:
United States
B.A. in English
University of California, Riverside
Romantic poetry (doctoral studies)
Degree:
MA, PhD
Country:
United States
M.A. and Ph.D. in Romantic poetry
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | United States Poet Laureate | — | — | Library of Congress | 在任（2001–2003） |
| 2004 | New York State Poet Laureate | — | — | State of New York | 在任（2004–2006） |
| 1991 | National Poetry Series (publication prize) | Questions About Angels | — | National Poetry Series | 受賞 |
| 1993 | John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship | — | — | John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | フェローシップ |
| 1992 | New York Public Library Literary Lion | — | — | New York Public Library | 選出 |
| 2005 | Mark Twain Award for Humor in Poetry | — | — | Poetry (magazine) | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Norman Mailer Prize (Poetry) | — | — | Norman Mailer Center | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award | — | — | Helmerich Award | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Member, American Academy of Arts and Letters | — | — | American Academy of Arts and Letters | 栄誉選出 |
| 1986 | National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship | — | — | National Endowment for the Arts | フェローシップ |
| 1983 | New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship | — | — | New York Foundation for the Arts | フェローシップ |
United States Poet Laureate
2001
Organization:
Library of Congress
Result:
在任（2001–2003）
New York State Poet Laureate
2004
Organization:
State of New York
Result:
在任（2004–2006）
National Poetry Series (publication prize)
1991
Work:
Questions About Angels
Organization:
National Poetry Series
Result:
受賞
John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship
1993
Organization:
John Simon Guggenheim Foundation
Result:
フェローシップ
New York Public Library Literary Lion
1992
Organization:
New York Public Library
Result:
選出
Mark Twain Award for Humor in Poetry
2005
Organization:
Poetry (magazine)
Result:
受賞
Norman Mailer Prize (Poetry)
2014
Organization:
Norman Mailer Center
Result:
受賞
Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award
2016
Organization:
Helmerich Award
Result:
受賞
Member, American Academy of Arts and Letters
2016
Organization:
American Academy of Arts and Letters
Result:
栄誉選出
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
1986
Organization:
National Endowment for the Arts
Result:
フェローシップ
New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship
1983
Organization:
New York Foundation for the Arts
Result:
フェローシップ
Awards & Nominations
Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry
1 appearances
-
Edition 24 (2011) Winner
Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 32 (2016) Winner
Works
Major Works
The Apple That Astonished Paris
1988 PoetryAn early collection featuring Collins's poems that render everyday moments with humor and insight.
everyday lifehumormemory
Questions About Angels
1991 PoetryPublished in 1991; a collection combining everyday observation with imaginative leaps, winner of the National Poetry Series.
imaginationexistenceeveryday mystery
The Art of Drowning
1995 PoetryA critically acclaimed collection that treats death, loss, and memory; widely read in the 1990s.
deathmemoryblend of humor and pathos
Sailing Alone around the Room: New and Selected Poems
2001 Poetry (new and selected)A collection of new and selected poems that broadened Collins's popularity among general readers.
everyday observationmusicalityhumor
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems
2013 Poetry (new and selected)A selection of new and earlier poems; notable for including the previously private 9/11 poem "The Names."
remembrancepublic and privatepoetics of the everyday
Bibliography
- Pokerface (1977)
- Video Poems (1980)
- The Apple That Astonished Paris (1988)
- Questions About Angels (1991)
- The Art of Drowning (1995)
- Picnic, Lightning (1998)
- Taking off Emily Dickinson's Clothes (2000, selected poems)
- Sailing Alone around the Room (2001)
- Nine Horses (2002)
- The Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems (2005)
- Ballistics (2006)
- Horoscopes for the Dead (2011)
- Aimless Love (2013)
- Voyage (2014)
- The Rain in Portugal (2016)
- Whale Day (2020)
- Musical Tables (2022)
- Water, Water (2024)
Adaptations
- Martha Speaks (appeared as himself)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- plainspoken, conversational voicehumor and witmusical rhythm
- Recurring Motifs
- everyday momentsmemory and timesmall astonishments
Legacy
Billy Collins is a widely popular American poet whose accessible voice and humor helped bring contemporary poetry to general readers. As Poet Laureate he promoted public programs such as Poetry 180.
Academic Societies
- American Academy of Arts and Letters (member)
Archives
- Library of Congress (materials related to Poetry 180 and laureate activities)
In Popular Culture
- Onstage conversations with Paul Simon blending poetry and music
- Touring performances with Aimee Mann combining readings and music
- TED talks (2012, 2014)
- Readings at the White House (2001, 2011, 2014)
Quotes
-
My interest has always been in catching everyday moments and turning them into poems.
Source: TED Talk "Everyday moments, caught in time" (2012) (2012)
Trivia
- In the late 1990s he received a six-figure advance for a three-book deal, unusual in the poetry world.
- As Poet Laureate he initiated the Poetry 180 program and accompanying anthology for high schools.
- He read his poem "The Names" at a joint session of Congress in 2002 but initially resisted publishing it.
- His recording 'The Best Cigarette' became a bestseller and was later reissued under a Creative Commons license.