If Billy Was My Neighbor

If Billy Was My Neighbor (Happy birthday too)

It is odd to read

about Billy Collins

and how he writes

his wondrous poems

When I didn’t know of him

I wrote poems which could have seemed

I wished to be just like him

if I had known him

Except I have no formal

English literary background

I don’t read Shakespeare

I cannot quote works by other poets

But Collin’s poetry

arrived in my mailbox

hand delivered from a neighbor

who likes my poems

So hello Billy!

If we were next door neighbors

would we be social or would I

secretly wish to be famous like you

Would poetry become our horseshoe pit

you always making a ringer as I search for my shoe

lost somewhere in my yard

lush with grass you envy?

Gregory Zeorlin 3/22/2011 9:36am