Blog Assignment #2: Billy Collins Litany Imitation (emphasis on metaphor)

Litany:

1

: a prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications by the leader with alternate responses by the congregation

2

a : a resonant or repetitive chant <a litany of cheering phrases — Herman Wouk>

b : a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration <a familiar litany of complaints>

c : a sizable series or set <a litany of problems>

 

 

"Litany"  by Billy Collins

You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine...
-Jacques Crickillon

You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.

 Assignment:


Step 1: Watch the two videos above.
Step 2: Write your own imitation of a litany. Your poem should contain the same number of lines. Each line of your poem should be structured in a similar manner to the poem by Collins.  Only your comparisons will be different.  Your poem should incorporate the same feel that Collins talks about in his video. Pinpoint a particular individual you want to praise.  Create a series of comparisons (metaphor) to help us get a sense of how you feel about that individual. Like Billy Collins, let you poem take a turn about halfway in. Notice how his initial comparisons are sort of your typical romantic, expected lovely comparisons. Then he moves to strange, surprising and even humorous comparisons about the person he's writing to poem to. Aim at a real person. It doesn't have to be a romantic partner. It can be a friend, a relative, a public figure, a pet, etc.


It might help to think of this assignment as similar to completing a Mad Lib:



You are the _____and the _____,
the ______ and the _____.
You are the ______
and the _____.
You are the ______,
and the _____.

However, you are not _____,

_____,
or _____.
And you are certainly not _____.
There is just no way that you are _____.

It is possible that you are _____,
maybe even _____,
but you are not even close
to being _____.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither _____
nor _____.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I _____.

I also happen to be ______,
______
and ______.

I am also the _____

and the _____.
But don't worry, I'm not the _____ and the ______.
You are still the _____ and the _____.
You will always be the _____ and the ______,
not to mention the _____ and--somehow--the _____.

 

Step 3: Be sure to give the new post a title. Let's all be consistent and call our post title Litany Imitation.

Step 4: Remember you need to post the blog entry by Tuesday, January 29. Remember also that it's your responsibility to post a comment on at least one of your classmates' blogs.