Imagery by Billy Collins

Today by Billy Collins is a poem that demonstrates the use of imagery. The entire poem is describing the world around us. “If ever there were a spring day so perfect, so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze.” In the first line of the poem the reader automatically can imagine a soft breeze whipping their hair around their face and the sun beating against their back. In the lines “and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,” and “releasing the inhabitants from their snow-covered cottage, so they could walk out, holding hands and squinting” also bring in the theme of freedom by the use of imagery. The reader can picture the tiny canary flying free into the bright blue sky of the summer day. Along with the people from the glass paperweight, they are free from the cold and are walking into the sunlight squinting. I think this poem is fantastic for stimulating the senses. It makes no wonder why Billy Collins is so famous for his use of imagery.