The Names Essay -- Literary Analysis, Billy Collins

In the poem â€Å"The Names,† by Billy Collins, the speaker is calmly recalling people’s last names alphabetically as he notices them wherever he goes. At first it seems as though he is playing a game to see how many names he can think of. After reading the whole poem several times, it becomes clear that he is referring to people who died on September 11th. Collins uses imagery, a serious tone, and similes throughout the poem to show appreciation for the memory of the victims that died that tragic day. In the first stanza, it is established that the poem is written in the first person, when â€Å"I† is referring to the speaker, which illustrates this person’s point of view concerning the tragedy of 9/11 during a whole day of events. The speaker begins by setting a tranquil mood as the opening of a long list of last names. In line 1, he says: â€Å"Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.† He describes the night like a tropical tree gently swaying in a peaceful beach setting. He calmly observes the gentle raindrops dripping slowly down his windows until they disappear in â€Å"A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze, / And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,† (2-3). For a brief moment, he enjoys going outside to his garden at sunrise to forget the sorrow that death brings when â€Å"In the morning, I walked out barefoot / Among thousands of flowers† (11-12). In the second stanza, the speaker visualizes images within the starry night and a muddy shoreline that symbolize individuals experiencing death-defying events. In line 8, the speaker states â€Å"Names printed on the ceiling of the night.† He is referring to the pattern of stars that draw great figures of Greek Gods, like Mars who is related to strength, energ... ...rassy cemetery is the place where gravestones are placed so the victims will not be forgotten. The speaker also reminds the reader that relatives tend to put the memory of their loved ones â€Å"into the dim warehouse of memory† (53) or in back of their minds so they will not feel so broken hearted. He recalls seeing â€Å"A woman by a window puts a match to a candle† (39) for the memory of a loved one that died from the attack. By the speaker’s comment â€Å"are outlined on the rose clouds† (40), he suggests as though the deceased victims appeared up in heaven. Collins uses visualization, emotions, and comparisons within several natural and man-made objects in respect to all the victims that tragically passed away that dreadful day. By specifically identifying several individuals in this poem, Collins found a way to honor those people that died on September 11, 2001.