To write like Billy Collins is
to be like a swift soaring
above the rooftops of Philadelphia
where smoke stacks blow out smoke
shaped like treble clefs.
Or chimney sweeps in London
descending the flues
looking for Mary Poppins.
And the swift may dive below the roof lines
seeing white car exhaust
puffing smoke rings into the night air.
And back up again,
not stopping this time but soaring upward
past the atmosphere to land
atop the space shuttle and look back
to see the world in swirls
of blue and green with wisps of white
and the cities can\'t be seen anymore at all.