'A place in the imagination'

 

“I'm trying to write poems that involve beginning at a known place, and ending up at a slightly different place. I'm trying to take a little journey from one place to another, and it's usually from a realistic place, to a place in the imagination.” – Billy Collins

  A two-time poet laureate of the U.S., Collins has a basketfull of awards for his poetry – which ranges from humorous to thought-provoking to deeply moving.  Whale Day is Collins' 17th book of poems and at age 81 he is still writing with the possibility of an 18th book looming.   For a poignant take on this coming week's holiday, check out his poem titled, simply, “Thanksgiving.” 

And, since on Nov. 8th we witnessed a "Beaver" Blood Moon,
for Saturday’s Poem, here is Collins’
 

Invention                                                        

Tonight the moon is a cracker,
with a bite out of it
floating in the night,

and in a week or so
according to the calendar
it will probably look

like a silver football,
and nine, maybe ten days ago
it reminded me of a thin bright claw.

But eventually --
by the end of the month,
I reckon --

it will waste away
to nothing,
nothing but stars in the sky,

and I will have a few nights
to myself,
a little time to rest my jittery pen.