One problem reader's have while analyzing a text is digging too deep.  Many people analyze a text so much that they lose what is important, the meaning pertaining to the reader and their own life.  Billy Collins, in his written text "Introduction to Poetry," describes in detail how the reader restricts themselves from the true meaning of the text because they are too caught up in the author's meaning.  He speaks in first person throughout the poem to explain to the reader the correct way to read this poem, or any text.  Collins, in "Introduction to Poetry," criticizes readers through the use of detailed imagery, descriptive diction and sudden tone shifts, to emphasize the importance of creating meaning for yourself.

Describing the perfect way to read a poem, Collins says to "hold it up to the light like a color slide" (58).  Collins is using comparative imagery to demonstrate that the reader should be looking at and interpreting the text through his or her own eyes.  By "holding it up to the light" (58), the reader would be able to view the poem in a way that is different from the author.   He wants the reader to "walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch" (58), which furthers the use of imagery to mirror the experience of being in a dark room and having to figure out where to go by using the imagination.  The light switch mentioned in this snippet symbolizes the author's meaning of the text.  When the lights are off, as described in the poem, the whole poem is open for the interpretation of the reader, as opposed to when the lights are on, the author's meaning is obvious, without the reader searching. 

Visual imagery is repeated for effect when Collins states "I want to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the authors name on the shore" (58).  Once again, the author uses visual imagery to express that the readers should be 'skiing' past the author's purpose of the text because that is not what is important.  The author's message can and should be acknowledged, which is why Collins says to "wave at the authors name on the shore" (58).  What is relevant to the author may not be as relevant to the reader, which is why interpretation is key.  Self interpretation is critical because the author and the reader are not the same person, do not have the same life and do not share the same imagination and perspective.  Collins' main point he is proving is that reading is not about finding the author's message, its about what the text means to the reader.  When a reader is looking solely for the author's meaning, they are restricting themselves from using their own imagination and creating their own meaning.  Readers who do not create their own meaning "tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it" (58), according to Collins. 

In the words of Collins, a reader without interpretation and creativity "begins beating [a text] with a hose to find out what it really means" (58).  Violent imagery in this snippet is used to further explain the author's main idea of personal interpretation.  Collins indirectly implies that if the reader does not interpret the words from the text in their own unique way, they lose the true meaning.  Individuality is a necessity while reading a text because the reader will not always agree with the author or have the same perspective, therefore a good reader could challenge the author.

Towards the end of his poem, Collins uses sudden, intense tone shifts to reinforce his consistent theme of personal interpretation and creativity.  Collins quickly goes from happily water skiing and "waving to the author's name on the shore" to violently "tying the poem to a chair with a rope and torturing a confession out of it".  He creates this dramatic tone shift to emphasize how important it is to have your own opinion.  Collins associates waterskiing past the author with an enjoyable activity because that is when he is referring to a good reader, a metaphor for the reader that creates their own interpretation.  When Collins is being graphic through disturbing imagery, he is using a metaphor for a bad reader, elaborating on exactly what he does not want a reader to do.  

In conclusion, Collins uses detailed visual imagery to persuade his readers to make their own assumptions about whatever text that's being read.  Through graphic metaphors and abrupt tone shifts, Collins speaks very strongly against readers who only search for the author's meaning and purpose.  The "Introduction to Poetry" as a whole convinces readers to stimulate their creativity or else they are wasting their time.  Without creativity, imagination and interpretation there is no meaning.  Readers must find what the text means to them because that is all that matters.  Every individual reader thinks differently, which in turn allows for no room for restriction, but only progress. 

