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Review title: The New Rod McKuen?
Product review: As one blurb writer says on the back on Picnic, Lightning, Billy Collins is "easy to love." To me, that's the sure sign that this poet needs to explore new directions in his work. Collins, who impressed me with his earlier work (Video Poems and The Apple. . . ) has become complacent, writing poems that amuse, make you think a little, but ultimately leave you with that "so what" feeling. There is nothing in Picnic, Lightning that will change your life. Collins has become a master self-promoter and crowd pleaser, and, like a versifying George W. Bush, is quite skilled at taking no risks with what he says or how he says it. Collins has become adept at writing the "Billy Collins" poem, and people are eating up his work like Twinkies. Will we ever learn anything about Collins other than that he likes listening to jazz, reading, and throwing parties? I hope so, but given the lure of popularity and the six-figure book deals that go with it, I doubt it.
