DOG SHOW Poems

The author's readings tend to be understated--like his poems. With the exception of Mary Oliver's DOG SONGS, dogs have not been a major topic for American poets. Billy Collins helps to fill that gap with this audiobook, a series of poems about particular dogs. Collins obviously knows and has lived with dogs, and he knows the specific dogs about whom he writes, even if some of them may be fictional. (Collins never says whether they are.) He invites the listener into their surfaces and provides an opportunity to explore their depths. Listeners should be sure to download the pdf file so they can see Pamela Sztybel's lovely watercolor portraits of the dogs in question, which are just as charming as the poems. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2025]