William J. ( `` Billy '' ) Collins ( born March 22 , 1941 ) is a poet who served two terms as the 11th Poet Laureate of the United States . He served from 2001 to 2003 . Billy Collins ( born William James Collins March 22 , 1941 ) is an American poet , appointed as Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003 .