Picnic, Lightning

I was killing time in a used bookstore last week and ran across a copy of Billy Collins' Picnic, Lightning that became an instant purchase.

Collins' poetry presents images so strong I can only describe them as photography. As that photographer, Collins is a member of your family, your best friend, sharing everyday moments and feelings so vividly they become your memories as well.

The title poem is a clever examination of two words from Nabakov's Lolita and packed with Collins' charming wit. My favorite, however, is This Much I Do Remember, a simple story of a memory being made.

Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins

• [Michael Langford]

  Those two words and one punctuation mark are one of my strongest memories of High School english class

• [millie fink]

  I remember that line from Lolita! It really (ha) struck me. The remembered death of Humbert’s . . . mother?

  Looking forward to reading the poem.

• [corypina]

  If I was an avid poetry reader, I would say Collins is my favorite poet. But really he’s just the poet I read on purpose.

• [Tudza White]

  Collins is a good poet you can recommend to anyone with a good chance they will agree.  He also reads his own work well.

• [Kerouac]

  Just ordered a copy… Looking forward to it.