Poetry Quote by Billy Collins — Inspiring Words on Life, Love & Wisdom

“The History Teacher”

“I could feel the day offering itself to me,”

“It is time to float on the waters of the night.”

“But tomorrow, dawn will come the way I picture her,”

“You will always be the bread and the knife, not to mention the crystal goblet and—somehow—the wine.”

“But some nights, I must tell you,”

“I now wish that I had spent somewhat more of my life with verse. This is not because I fear having missed out on truths that are incapable of statement in prose. There are no such truths; there is nothing about death that Swinburne and Landor knew but Epicurus and Heidegger failed to grasp. Rather, it is because I would have lived more fully if I had been able to rattle off more old chestnuts — just as I would have if I had made more close friends.”

“I. Those of us born by water are never afraid enough of drowning. Bruises used to trophy my knees from my death-defying tree climb jumps. Growing up, my backyard was a forest of blackberry bushes. I learned early nothing sweet will come to you unthorned.”

“Silly girl, your different was your beautiful all along.”

“We made love outdoors”

“To you who eat a lot of rice because you’re lonely,”

“Like a child who saves their favourite food on the plate for last, I try to save all thoughts of you for the end of the day so I can dream with the taste of you on my tongue.”