Poetry Billy Collins Analysis

1) The title of this poem is unusual in that it is much longer than the average length of a title in poetry. The title also isn’t stylised in any way (though it could be argued that that deliberate decision is stylising the title) and doesn’t contain any form of punctuation. It also not only sets the scene (“To the doctor who treated the raped baby”) but also elaborated on the nature of its subject (“… and who felt such despair”) . Titles are the first thing that the reader sees, as such it is important for a title to tell the reader what to expect from the poem. In this regard the title of the poem is an extremely effective as it sets the tone for the entire poem, which I think, is strangely formal in the way it addresses the subject. Intriguing
titles such as this one also serve to draw the attention of the reader because it is so distinctive.
2) The speaker in the poem utilises plural pronouns to achieve a number of effects. First and foremost being a sense of community. The use of “all of us” shows that people are collectively experiencing an event and the aftermath of it. This serves to add greater relevance and validity to the opinions expressed by the speaker as we know that many people are in agreement with him/her. The use of plural pronouns also separate the “us” from the individuals mentioned in the poem, emphasising their importance. The compassion of these figures, the “bleary eyed uncle” who feeds the child, “the doctor” who provides care, the mother breastfeeding the children etc, are all in stark contrast to the faceless mass. The uses of plural pronouns are also very effective in creating a sense of authority and gratitude. “We slept in trust…” indicates that the speaker and whomever he/she is speaking on behalf of have faith in who is being addressed. In conclusion, the uses of plural pronouns effectively add cohesion to the poem and invoke a strong sense of unity in the face of a gratuitous act.