Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

     At first, I didn't understand the poem. I had to reread the poem at least 3 more times to find out what it meant. But as I read the poem, I started to realize how great and unique the poem was. I felt like the poem was trying to teach me how to read poems. I realized that the poet was trying to explain the poetry was something to be experienced. Knowing me, I just read poems and try to figure out what they mean. Billy Collins  didn't go by this method. I noticed that there were a great use of metaphors in the poem. For example,  the word "poem"  was compared to a "hive". Meaning, it might be hard to fully understand a poem but you can succeed despite the difficulties.That is like risking your safety to have  physical contact with dangerous bee hives. Billy Collins enlightened me with an important message.