Billy Collins served two terms as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003, and is now the New York State Poet Laureate. As U.S. Laureate he worked to raise the profile of poetry among readers, launching the Poetry 180 program to introduce high school students to the work of living poets writing in an accessible style. He also edited the very popular anthology Poetry 180. His volumes of poetry include Picnic, Lightning, Taking Off Emily Dickinson’s Clothes, Sailing Alone Around the Room, and Nine Horses.