The Names
“Names written in the pale sky
Names rising in the updraft amid buildings
Names silent in a stone
Our cried out behind a door” (32-35) These are just a few lines Billy Collins so vividly wrote in his poem, The Names, which draws readers into the depths of his mind and describes what he feels about the horrific events that occurred on September 11th, 2001 in New York. As well as the aftermath which will carry through history forever. Within the poem, Collins illuminates many values of importance to him, nature, diversity, as well as the hardships of the family are just a few many examples illuminated throughout the poem. The speaker greatly values nature as referenced to in the poem. The speaker describes a night in which
“Names written in the pale sky
Names rising in the updraft amid buildings
Names silent in a stone
Our cried out behind a door” (32-35) These are just a few lines Billy Collins so vividly wrote in his poem, The Names, which draws readers into the depths of his mind and describes what he feels about the horrific events that occurred on September 11th, 2001 in New York. As well as the aftermath which will carry through history forever. Within the poem, Collins illuminates many values of importance to him, nature, diversity, as well as the hardships of the family are just a few many examples illuminated throughout the poem. The speaker greatly values nature as referenced to in the poem. The speaker describes a night in which