KQED's Forum Forum From the Archives: What Has a Dog Shown You?
Dec 24, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Billy Collins, a former U.S. Poet Laureate known for his humorous and reflective poetry, shares insights from his new collection, Dog Show. He reflects on childhood dog experiences and how dogs teach us to embrace the ordinary with joy. Collins reads poignant poems that explore themes of loss, detachment, and affection, while callers recount personal stories of dogs providing emotional support. Through humor and wisdom, Collins reveals how dogs can shape our perspective on life and love.
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Dogs Teach Presence
- Billy Collins sees dogs as models for slowing down and finding the radiant in ordinary moments.
- He frames dogs as reminders to pay attention and be present in difficult times.
A Childhood Dog And A Father's Warning
- Collins recounts wanting a dog as a child and getting Sparky after moving to Westchester.
- His father warned, "we're buying a heartache," a line that stayed with him.
Heartache And Enlargement
- Collins reflects on dogs' short lives and how owners must repeatedly recover from grief.
- He imagines a dog's mortality as a tender, shadowy presence in a walker's life.