What is the tone of the poem "Litany" by Billy Collins? Is there some sort of message or is he just being weird? Since the first two lines were written by that Belgian guy, I would imagine he is making fun of love poems. Am I in the right direction?
I think "playfulness" would be a good term for Collins' poem.
Yes there is a message...No he is not making fun of love poems. He is using metaphors to tell his love what he thinks of her and to let her know what kind of person he is.
Here is a quote from a review
" the marvelous ''Litany'' strikes me as the likeliest new candidate to inspire the question ''Do you know the Billy Collins poem about . . . ?'' What sets ''Litany'' apart is that the words themselves, not just the situation, are so memorable. That's because it capitalizes on some of the oldest verbal conventions in poetry -- parallelism, refrain, the lover's mystical hyperbole -- and simultaneously pokes fun at them. Quoting a snippet of a poem by the Belgian poet Jacques Crickillon (''You are the bread and the knife, / The crystal goblet and the wine''), Collins offers his lover a stanza of similarly lofty praises before asserting himself:
However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is no way you are the pine-scented air.
And the poet isn't finished: ''It might interest you to know . . . that I am the sound of rain on the roof.'' It turns out he's a lot of other things she may not have appreciated: ''I am also the moon in the trees / and the blind woman's teacup.'' He's not so hardhearted, though, that he won't throw her a bone at the end: ''But don't worry, I am not the bread and the knife. / You are still the bread and the knife.''
By MARY JO SALTER
Published: October 20, 2002
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE2D6163AF933A15753C1A9649C8B63
The poem "Litany" by Billy Collins does have a distinct tone, but it is open to interpretation. Some readers may find the tone humorous, satirical, or playful, while others might perceive it as melancholic or contemplative.
As for your observation about the first two lines being written by a Belgian poet, it's worth noting that Billy Collins is known for his use of intertextuality and drawing from other poets' works. In this case, he references the opening lines of a love poem by Jacques Crickillon.
Regarding whether Collins is making fun of love poems, it's important to consider the context and the overall message of the poem. While Collins does employ irony and humor throughout his work, it is not necessarily indicative of him ridiculing the genre of love poetry. Instead, "Litany" can be seen as a reflection on the different ways love is described and understood, with a touch of self-awareness and playfulness.
Keep in mind that interpretations of poetry can vary, so it is always valuable to explore different perspectives and form your own understanding based on the text and your personal analysis.
To understand the tone of a poem, it is important to analyze various elements such as the language, imagery, and overall mood conveyed by the poet. In the case of "Litany" by Billy Collins, the tone can be characterized as playful, satirical, and slightly irreverent.
To determine the tone, it is helpful to examine specific examples from the poem. Collins begins with the line, "You are the bread and the knife," which suggests a deliberate departure from conventional love poem imagery. Instead of employing conventional romantic metaphors, Collins takes a more tongue-in-cheek approach by comparing love to mundane objects. This element of humor and subversion is a distinctive feature of his writing style.
Considering the reference to a Belgian poet in the first two lines, it is possible to interpret Collins as playfully poking fun at the tradition of love poetry. By including these unexpected images and juxtapositions, Collins challenges the traditional ideas of love and romance. The tone suggests a form of parody or satire, gently mocking the clichés and conventions of love poems. However, it is worth noting that this interpretation may vary from reader to reader, as interpretations of poetry can be subjective.
Ultimately, Collins' tone in "Litany" appears to be more lighthearted and inventive than a straightforward message or intention. He blends wit, humor, and wordplay to create a fresh and unique perspective on love and relationships.