Billy Collins is the author of seven collections of poetry,
including, most recently, Nine Horses and the bestselling
collection. Sailing Alone Around the Room. He is a
Distinguished Professor of English at Lehman College of
the City University of New York and is the creator of
"Poetry 180: A Poem a Day for American High Schools,"
| which encourages students to listen to poetry every day of
the school year. He was appointed poet laureate of the
United States for 2001-2002 and reappointed for 2002-
2003.
