Fishing on the Susquehanna in July

Billy Collins’s “Fishing on the Susquehanna in July” deals with a specific event which the speaker claims to never have experienced. Although fishing on the Susquehanna is not something of his taste, the speaker is curious of how it is. He tries to experience it indirectly by looking at a painting or by just sitting in a room “trying to manufacture the sensation” (Collins). Collins uses the setting, the point of view and imagery to convey the meaning of the poem.

The settings reveal some aspects of the speaker’s personality. He claims to be “more likely to be found in a quiet room” (Collins). This demonstrates he certainly does not enjoy out doors activities and prefers staying in. He would not know if fishing is pleasant or not because he would never try it. The other setting at the museum reveals how the speaker is introspective because looking at a painting he not only enjoys the art as it is but also tries to apply the situation to him and thinks about how it would be for himself. These aspects of the speaker’s personality indicate the reasons behind his reactions.

Since the poem is about a personal experience, the use of first person point of view seems to have a big impact. Since it’s written in first person it is easier to sense the speaker’s feelings or thoughts. He speaks in a straight forward way and conveys his thoughts both directly and indirectly. The point of view also shows something of the speaker’s character. He tells the story concentrating only on himself and thus reveals his somewhat self-centered personality.

The use of imagery in “Fishing on the Susquehanna in July” plays a big role in defining the meaning of the poem. The lively and colorful imagery that Collins uses reveals how the speaker feels about “fishing on the Susquehanna in July”. The words “rowing”, “sliding” and “raising” that indicate actions proves the speakers desire to try those actions. The words “blue”, “red” and “green” that he uses to describe the paining of the fish shows how he views fishing as an experience.