Billy Collins with Paul Holdengraber at Samueli Theater

"A poet of plentitude, irony, and Augustan grace."—The New Yorker

Billy Collins is an American phenomenon. Not since Robert Frost has anyone managed to combine high critical acclaim with such broad popular appeal; his level of fame is almost unprecedented in the world of contemporary poetry. 

His last three collections of poems have broken sales records. His readings are usually standing room only, and his audience – enhanced tremendously by his appearances on National Public Radio – includes people of all backgrounds and age groups.

The poems themselves best explain this phenomenon. Billy Collins makes uncommonly accessible verse – characterized by plain language, gentle humor, and a sincere appreciation for the mundane. He is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender, or profound observation on the everyday, reading and writing, and poetry itself. No wonder Collins sees his poetry as “a form of travel writing” and considers humor “a door into the serious.” It is a door that many thousands of readers have opened with amazement and delight.

Along with the twelve best-selling volumes of his poetry, Collins also served two terms as the US Poet Laureate, from 2001-2003. He has been awarded almost every poetry prize under the sun, including being the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation.

Collins’ highly anticipated new poetry collection, Water, Water, debuting in November 2024, is a wondrous collection of poems focused on the joys and mysteries of everyday life!

Moderating this evening will be curator and writer Paul Holdengraber.  Paul was director of the New York Public Library's public programming and organized literary conversations for the NYPL's public program series, LIVE from the NYPL, which he founded.