The Suburban, Domestic And Middle Class Poetry Of Billy Collins

By Steve Kraske,

Published October 30, 2014 at 3:10 PM CDT

Billy Collins likes to remind people that he once served as Poet Laureate of the United States when he gives talks around the country. It serves as a punch line of sorts for him, but what a line it is.

A Guggenheim winner, Billy Collins may be the best-known poet in the country. He describes his work as “suburban, domestic, it’s middle class, and it’s sort of unashamedly that.” On this edition of Up to Date, Collins talks with Steve Kraske about baseball, his career and reader-friendly poetry. Along the way, the poet shares selections from his latest work, Aimless Love.

Hear More: Billy Collins speaks tonight at 7:00 at Unity Temple on the Plaza. For more information contact Rainy Day Books at 913.384.3126

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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