photo by Curt Richter Billy Collins served two terms as United States Poet Laureate and founded Poetry 180, a teaching aid for high school students based on the belief that "poems can inspire and make us think about what it means to be a member of the human race." Collins has joined us for the Seminar nearly every year since he left the Library of Congress office, and is an annual favorite of the students who join us from Key West High School.

This recording was made in January of 2003, during Collins's second term as Laureate. He reads a selection of poems, including "Shoveling Snow With Buddha," "Monday," "Flock," "Creatures," "The Lanyard," "The Country," "Surprise," "No Time," "Love," "Sonnet," "Japan," "Forgetfulness," "Consolation," "On Turning Ten," and "Nightclub."

Collins will join us again in 2010 for Clearing the Sill of the World.

(30:31) / 14 MB

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This recording is being made available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights to this recorded material belong to the author. © 2003, 2009 Billy Collins. Used with generous permission from Billy Collins.