I don't even like poetry!

[laleia]

So I came across Billy Elliot's Introduction to Poetry twice in the past two days, more r less. The strange thing though is that in the two times, the ... I don't know what to call it. The versification? The verses were different.

One divided the poem into three verses, the other into seven. And it's not like they combined a few verses of the latter to make the former. The split a few of the latter as well. It really changes the flow/rhythm of the poem, and a quick Google didn't really reveal what the original versification is supposed to be.

Here, have the two versions:

Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room

and feel the walls for a light switch.
I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.
But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope

and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

and

Introduction to Poetry
by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to water ski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

ETA: It has come to my attention that the reason I couldn't find the answer on Google is because I completely misread the poet and have been Googling "Billy Elliot Introduction to Poetry" instead of Billy Collins ... I have no idea why my brain decided to glitch in this regard.

Comments

[essbeejay.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. (Would this separation fall under enjambement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enjambment)?) To be honest I thought your "and" separating the two poems was originally part of the first one, and was looking for it in the second as it was my favorite part. Then I realized my error, and I was less enthusiastic about the poem entirely.

Also the mention of Billy Elliot in the beginning amused me :)

[laleia.livejournal.com]

Enjambement sounds about right. :) The last time I did any sort of poetry analysis it was in French, so all the technical terms have disappeared from my head. Also, I think perhaps my brain was rerouted because 1.) a student mentioned Billy Elliott in class yesterday and 2.) I saw an ad for it today.

But now the mystery is solved! The reason I couldn't find the answer to my question on Google is because I googled Billy Elliot instead of Billy Collins! ...