Several years ago, I listened to a Master Class featuring Collins. I enjoyed learning about his writing process in a series of insightful episodes.

Following this, I read the poet’s collection Whale Day. Now, I have spent time with Water Water, reading a poem a day so as to savor this collection of sixty poems.

Some people veer away from poetry fearing that it is too highbrow or that they won’t understand a verse. Collins is not like that. His poems are written in, what I find, to be a direct and clear style. Readers can choose those that they prefer but they will not feel bewildered overall. The poems often reference every day life and end with something to ponder. So many are worth the reader’s time.

It is easy to recommend this collection.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this title. All opinions are my own.

I generally never find myself going for happier poems (some bad commentary on my life I guess) but these were really nice and refreshing at a generally upsetting time. I'm glad I took the time to read them.

I felt for a while that many of Collins’ poems read almost like mini-vignettes and nowhere is it more exemplified than here in Water, Water.

My favorite poems were:
“When a Man Loves Something”
“Addressing the Heart”
“The Guardian”
“Display Case”
“Fire in the Movies”

I don't read a lot of poetry, so I was a little afraid I wouldn't understand it completely, that I might not "get" it. But I loved sitting down to a poem or two every night, and taking the time to savor the language and imagery, and to find myself back in the mind of Billy Collins and his insightful observations. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to take a chance on poetry, but might be scared to try. And I look forward to discussing it with poets who know more than I do, and to discover more.

I,ve loved Billy Collins's poems for decades, and this latest collection does not disappoint. The best hing wbout his poems is that they make me view the world a little differently, and that is a wonderful thing.

I don't read much poetry these days, but I was delighted to be able to read new poems by Billy Collins. I think he is able to write poetry that is at once uniquely about his own life and relatable to many others. He is able to look at everyday things and find the joys and mysteries buried beneath the surfaces. I find myself looking at the world around me with new eyes after reading his work. Because he is so accessible, I find it easy to suggest his work to any customers even open to the idea of reading poetry.

Billy Collins is masterful as ever! I teach a poetry course and will be using this as part of my curriculum during a choice unit. The content isn’t exactly up my alley, but the writing is stunning as always! 3.5 stars.

Billy Collins is the hero of English teachers everywhere, the writer of poems that are eminently accessible without losing the layers that differentiate verse from prose. Water, Water is in conversation with Collins' older work and the state of poetry more generally, with reflections on the process of writing both in terms of craft and emotion. One poem bemoans the scarcity of apostrophe in modern poetry (Oh heart!), and another ends with the title of perhaps his most widely taught poem, "Introduction to Poetry." This one, in particular, I love: the way it captures the chaos and magic of class discussion, where a distressing lack of background knowledge can evolve into thrilling questions, the way it frames poetry as the act of pausing to observe what is concrete and true in the midst of academic inquiry about context and word choice. Collins seems like an excellent teacher, and his writing describes a life thoughtfully and joyfully lived. May we all be so lucky.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for an advance copy of this collection of poetry that looks at the life of a poet the little things that made it what it is, and continue to give him reasons to write, to ponder, and wonder.

Poetry was something I never really was into, not until much later in life. Well after college, and even after I started working in bookstores. I love song lyrics can recite them backwards and forwards, and drop them in conversations, but poetry was never my little green bag. I knew the names, could name some titles, but that was it. I would never think of reading a poem for fun, skipped poems in the Paris Review and The New Yorker, and never gave them much thought. I don't know what changed my mind. A certain young lady who ran open mike nights at a coffee shop. Maybe I was stuck somewhere and had to read a magazine cover to cover, read a poem and found it interesting. Maybe I got old, and in my older years can look at poems with something my younger self could not. I must say reading poems and commentary on poems has opened my mind to a lot of different things. Poems seem to point out those things we miss, don't appreciate, or just don't understand. Which is why Billy Collins is one of my top ten favorite poets. This list, like my lists for best books, movies, songs, comics changes depending on mood, day and life. However Colllins has a permanent place on that list, and his latest Water, Water will probably help keep him there.

The poems range across time, lives, locations, seasons, and well being. In some the poet is happy in a relationship, getting home before the snow, making dinner and settling in. In others the poet is left, or does the leaving, surprised sometimes, expecting it in others. Students ask questions in class about anno Domini, leaving a teacher of poetry looking at the leaves changing colors for answers. A cat joins the writer in watching his house burn. An astronaut reads a poem by Emily Dickinson from the International Space Station, to the poet and a group of admirers. A chance meeting with cannabis makes for strange thoughts about the moon. In Amsterdam a couple goes to see the last stop of the trumpeter Chet Baker, while ruminating on the fact that he hates jazz violinists. And many poems deal with dogs, hens, peacocks and more being who they are, or being better than the humans around them.

I enjoy Billy Collins poems for they always seem to start normal, and go places one doesn't expect. A bit about a reading a book ends in a near tragedy. Life is far more interesting, even going to the doctors than we give it credit. There is humor, there is sadness, and as one reads there is a lot about getting older. Some go on but all collections are like that. I really enjoyed many of these, and even later went back and read them again. One can't help but feel human at the end of his work A feeling that is rare today. Life is no matter what is going on, no matter what social media is telling you. And it is life worth living. I eagerly await more poems coming from Collins, and I can't wait to read them.

I got an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With his typical flair, Billy Collins manages to create instances out of thin air. This new book of poetry is everything you love about Billy and more. The standout for me was The Monet Conumdrum. Such mesmerizing work. Glad I was able to fit it in to my busy schedule! Thanks for reading!

Billy Collins has a poetic voice that, once heard, is easily recognized. I'm a long-time fan, and had the opportunity to hear him read in person several years ago. I had the immense pleasure of reading several of the Water, Water poems aloud to my husband and son, and the immense pleasure of seeing their responses. What a delight. I already have favorites after one reading, and look forward to the next time, and the next.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to the ARC. Opinions stated here are my own, and I'm not compensated for my review.

I want to thank Netgalley.com and Random House for the privilege of reading Water, Water by Billy Collins (coming out in November available for pre-order). I enjoyed this collection. Collins's way of observing the daily minutiae, and connecting it to life's broader questions makes for pleasant reading.

In this collection, I noted his use of negation to create contrast as in the opening line of "Crying in Class," "This is not a weeping board," and the poem "If/Then" starting with, "Let's just say there is no expanding universe," and "Against Longing" which begins with, "One of the things I would not write is."

As a poet who lives on a lake and loves to swim, I related to the titular poem, "Water, Water." I was drawn in by the opening, "I do some of my best thinking when standing on the bottom of a lake, up to my chin in lake water." I recommend this collection for everyone.

My first experience with Billy Collins was in my freshman college poetry seminar, and I have been a fan ever since. I devoured this collection in a day. A beautiful mix of emotional exploration with Collins' clean style and voice, Water, Water is full of gems that will keep you turning pages.

Big thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

my first time reading billy collins! he has such a warm style like it just feels so optimistic, it felt really traditional as well which i didn't love but that's just a personal preference. rtc when i have time, thanks to netgalley for the chance to review :D

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every poem in this collection. I could image myself in the various settings. I recommend.

I know many people love Billy Collins' poetry, he has been recommended to me many times but I don't find his poetry quite agrees with me.

"Water, Water" is a warm and welcoming read. Very traditional in the sense of narrative and confessional poetry so my takeaway was on the more lukewarm side, as I am wont for something punchy and a little strange in my poetry. Those who want a clear picture into poetry or first time readers will find immense satisfaction with this collection.

My favorite poems are: "Turning the Pages of A History of Art the Morning After an Argument", "Display Case", and "A Change of Heart."

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Billy Collins, the former U.S. Poet Laureate, returns with Water, Water, a collection that captures the beauty and irony of everyday life through sixty new poems. Known for his accessible yet profound style, Collins invites readers to find wonder in the mundane and to appreciate the subtle mysteries that surround us.

Each poem begins with clarity, drawing readers into familiar scenes, but often ends with a touch of mystery, leaving them with something to ponder. This collection is a testament to Collins’ belief that poetry should elevate the ordinary and reveal the extraordinary within it.

Collins’ writing is characterized by its conversational tone and lyrical quality. His poems are both hospitable and melodic, making them accessible to a broad audience while still offering depth for those who seek it.  His ability to blend straightforward observations with elusive insights is what makes his work so engaging and thought-provoking.

Water, Water is a charming and insightful collection that showcases Billy Collins’ talent for making the ordinary extraordinary. His poems encourage readers to slow down, observe, and find joy in the small moments of life.

This collection is a must-read for poetry lovers and anyone looking to rediscover the beauty in the world around them.

Personally, this work earned an enthusiastic 5 stars from me, and I am not typically a poetry fan, but I love this book!

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy accessible yet profound poetry, and for those who appreciate finding depth in the everyday. Collins’ work will resonate with anyone who values the art of observation and the magic of the mundane.

The joy of poetry is that is speaks to people in a variety of ways. I always enjoy Billy Collins' work, and Water, Water was no different. It was a quick, pleasant read with poems that were full of feeling and depth. I will be adding this title to our high school library's collection.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this download of Billy Collins latest compilation of poems, Water Water.
I loved this book. It was so profound and moving. This collection makes you think about the beyond - things that are within our grasp, but on a different level than us, if that makes sense. It just really got my brain cells thinking on a different level.
I am new to Billy Collins' work and after seeing in his acknowledgements that he was the United States Poet Laureate, I realized I need to read more.