Turning ten

In the poem, On Turning Ten, Billy Collins was sadended by the loss of his childhood and reminised about his younger days.  Billy has come to realize that the world is not all sweets and roses, that there is a more realistic and darker side to the world.  Billy understands now that he's not invincible, and he has come to the realization that the world and his life is only going to be tougher from here on out.

Collin is trying to say that when you're a little kid everything seems so easy and there is always a simple solution to everything. Once you grow up you realize that life isn't that easy.

Collins captures childhood by using memories of joyous times in his own childhood. Whether it's being an Arabian wizard, or making himself invisible, Collins shows how the times changed and the ways he played as he grew up.

I think that the saddness and dissapointment that is shown by Collins is what makes this poem so effective.  He shows the different transitions in life in just a short period of time.

My own life has changed so much since I was young.  By the way I look, dress, act, and who I hang out with. A year can change so many things.

According to the author the definition of beauty is that you may be beautiful naturally, but with other things to make you look better you will be more beautiful.
According to the author the definition of denial is to use denial as a way out of a problem and to blame on people who don't think the same way that you do.
According to the authorr the definition of evil is how people spread their hate and act upon it, not the evil of satan.