Billy Collins: Everyday moments, caught in time

Рет қаралды 310,941

12 жыл бұрын

www.ted.com Combining dry wit with artistic depth, Billy Collins shares a project in which several of his poems were turned into delightful animated films in a collaboration with Sundance Channel. Five of them are included in this wonderfully entertaining and moving talk -- and don't miss the hilarious final poem!
Credits for the animations in this talk:
"Budapest," "Forgetfulness" and "Some Days" -- animation by Julian Grey/Head Gear
"The Country" -- animation by Brady Baltezor/Radium
"The Dead" -- animation by Juan Delcan/Spontaneous
More at: www.bcactionpoet.org
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com/translate
If you have questions or comments about this or other TED videos, please go to support.ted.com

Пікірлер: 163

@Caneel2 8 жыл бұрын

Upon reading the comments, I am reminded of another Billy Collins' poem: I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means.

@Alkamm 6 жыл бұрын

I give this introduction to poetry to my classes to let them know we're not looking for "the meaning" but to walk along in the poem's footsteps, smell it, feel it, and realize it's the images that come to you during the poem as much as the words that inspire the images. They are relieved, mostly, but sometimes need reminders when they can't figure out "the meaning."

@nickandmikec 5 жыл бұрын

A COOL PLACE 　 I go out in the morning and rub my eyes. Who knows what to tell the day? Some know what to order immediately, they recognize each other, what is to sell. I walk under the peach sky on Aura Street and my thoughts stick from leaf to post in happy webs. For those who are like me it’s clear the bells have outrung themselves. For a while there’s room in the city. 　　 Who knows the nature of this pleasure must know me. A corner of being neither fence nor tree nor peach sky. My young children know it every day but it’s hard being older to keep from holding all of everything in a blind embrace. I want to hold a single thing. It’s time to enter a cool place where only a piece exists, a beer, a chair, the intimate hands of one person dangerously one person. To ask, will you sit near me? To say, you’re not everyone.

@user-dr6rt1ji3l 4 жыл бұрын

Al Kammerer I felt so lucky that I only listened to (as I was on my way to sleep) and didn’t view this. I really love what you say, and there lies some proof of it...I had immense enjoyment from just conjuring images listening to his sublime stories. Wonderful animation, though.

@TheBlackmentos94 12 жыл бұрын

One of my favorite poets ever. The simpleness of his work is just beautiful, reflecting reality in such a fun and care free way.

@alwaysuseless 10 жыл бұрын

Here's a suggestion: Before watching the animation for a poem, close your eyes and simply listen to him read the poem. Then back up the cursor and watch the animation as he reads it. I like the animations. They're clever. But the first time through, I prefer just the words.

@Nikanaiko 12 жыл бұрын

The "Forgetfulness" poem hit me hard, as someone with semi-serious memory problems due to depression. I don't remember most of the books I've read. Every time I reread a book, it's like reading it for the first time. Same with movies or other stories. I've looked in old pictures and wondered whose shoulders I have my arm around and why I seemed so happy. I sometimes forget where I'm walking to when I'm walking. To see a poem address that gave me chills...but I will probably forget the poem soon.

@ladybird491 4 жыл бұрын

He is writing about everything he notices like Charles Bukowski do. I do the same thing now and amazing poems are coming out

@mandypac2854 10 жыл бұрын

"If at first you don't succeed, hide all evidence you ever tried" 4:40

@marycloseoppenheimer 9 жыл бұрын

I love the artistry and humor of Billy Collin's poetry. In this talk his poems are paired with interesting animation.

@MsMoem 10 жыл бұрын

What an interesting talk, and I have to confess that his references to being poet laureate made me smile! I am based in the UK and haven't come across Billy Collins before but I love the animations blended with his poems.

@rhymybollocks5990 5 жыл бұрын

The story of his friendship reminded me of the bed time story : The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, so innocent and nice.

@2bsirius 12 жыл бұрын

"Budapest" reminds me slightly of Shamus Heaney's "Digging" if it were transported to America. This was great. Thanks.

@jenniferjope9601 10 жыл бұрын

I love seeing these poems come to life, even if it is visually different from what lived in my mind when I first read them.

@mc2gregory 12 жыл бұрын

I am so glad that TED got Billy Collins. I love his poetry!

@sonampalmo3578 2 ай бұрын

That wonderful Budapest poem was crashed into by a KZfaq disturbance in friggin Spanish. A POX on YT! I love Billy Collins and any poet or poet-to-be can find nourishment and inspiration in his genius.

@axiomist4488 2 жыл бұрын

I just realized that the last poem to the 17 y/o girl is about his daughter ! I'd read it before, but I failed to grasp the fact . Billy is one of my favorite poets, along with Mary Oliver, whose "The Kitten" is my favorite poem .

@VisArtVisuals 12 жыл бұрын

they should make a channel for his poems and animations

@avacollopybooks5116 9 жыл бұрын

This author is wonderfully talented and not full of himself at the same time. Very interesting idea; yet another of his innovations to keep this art medium current and attract new admirers to it.

@rievans57 10 ай бұрын

It is amazing how Billy Collins takes simplicity and makes it simple.

@manizhaazizi3156 7 ай бұрын

I have never enjoyed poetry this much!!! He is a legend

@TheAnonyte 10 жыл бұрын

what an inspiration

@AppA 12 жыл бұрын

That last one was just too awesome.

@NormanVsNorman 12 жыл бұрын

The poem at the end... Made my day!

@redsol3629 9 ай бұрын

Night House by Collins is one of my favourites.

@KaiTendo174 12 жыл бұрын

TED finally in HD!

@randallreid2852 9 жыл бұрын

I never figured I would truly enjoy poetry! Thank you, Mr. Collins. I now what a "poet laureate" is :-) ...Kudos!

@karenlewis9968 5 жыл бұрын

you've chosen a great poet to listen to. he is a national treasure!

@LeonidasGGG 12 жыл бұрын

Last poem was a beauty!

@MeagheanMae 12 жыл бұрын

Poetry if for authors with the ability to sum up a whole song or novel in a gorgeously concise fashion. It is a true art form like any other and has inspired me equally as much as my prose and song writings. I see no reason to be putting out so much negativity. The Arts need more positive and passionate thinkers like Billy Collins and other artists to further the positive advancement of our human kind.

@BruceDeitrickPrice 5 жыл бұрын

We are lucky to have Billy Collins.

@lananhnguyenthi5038 9 ай бұрын

I love "To my favorite 17-year-old high school girl", the way he shows parents' expectation to their child compared to the reality happening at their house is hilarious and relatable. Brilliant mind, Billy.

@hellachaz 12 жыл бұрын

"There's a horror movie in there somewhere." Dr. Who has it covered! S06E09 - "Night Terrors"

@thepancakekilla 11 жыл бұрын

I saw this video in school today.

@jelliott0077 3 жыл бұрын

Cool story bro... lol

@2222isabella 3 ай бұрын

What a treat to listen to!

@jacksonjohnson9674 2 жыл бұрын

How dare you make me think on my day off sir!

@CKT_in_JC 2 жыл бұрын

This is incredible. Very rewarding. Thank you.

@grandduchyofmiami 12 жыл бұрын

Last Poem: Epic!

@usaaok 12 жыл бұрын

I love poetry, this is awesome.

@BrotherWoody1 12 жыл бұрын

Bravo! One of the best TED's ever!

@THEWELLBELL 4 жыл бұрын

This is so far the best ted talk for me.

@petree50 12 жыл бұрын

the third poem was fantastic!

@dr-maybe 12 жыл бұрын

I'm still not entirely sure of whether art belongs on TED or not, but I really enjoyed these animated poems. Thanks!

@__alliemitchell 6 жыл бұрын

LOVE this man

@zovalentine7305 Жыл бұрын

I love Billy Collins💚❤💚❤ 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@MarkArandjus 12 жыл бұрын

These shorts are really good.

@paulorogerioguimaraes4001 4 жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@pyrojamin 12 жыл бұрын

i normally dont care for poetry but his is beautiful

@scottycatman 12 жыл бұрын

Not only is this poetry very prime, but it's in plain, understandable English. I applaud you, Billy Collins.

@ariesfairies 12 жыл бұрын

being a 17 year old girl myself.... damn that poem hit me!

@keirstenwahlberg6476 2 жыл бұрын

His poems are simple but profound

@kennychaffin4578 10 жыл бұрын

Love it!

@laurarox80 12 жыл бұрын

LOL never heard that last one, loved it, but I was sassily goin 'uh!" after everything he said. =pp

@eagleeye1975 12 жыл бұрын

Poetry is just a fancy word used to describe someone who has nothing better to do, and nothing more to offer, than something he has decided is art, and has browbeaten everyone else in to thinking it's art as well. Anything can be poetry, any series of words can be beautiful. Why we laud these people is beyond me.

@Ruthlessraze 12 жыл бұрын

This is really good!

@cynthiascharon-knight6286 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@salahhe 12 жыл бұрын

A week ago, I was managing my playlist and saw poetry then wanted to delete it. I accidentally closed the page before deleting it. I only listen to these while working, and i thought "what if , when it gets on line, it will actually be good stuf?" then i shook my head because, you know, poetry, wtf can be good about that, i'll just delete it when I hear it.Now it came on the list, I skipped forward, i listened to it and kept on listening. it was good. And that is something.

@mjarratt12 4 жыл бұрын

Sounds like it got you before you had time to deploy your anti-poetry defense mechanism...

@AlphaNumeric123 10 жыл бұрын

I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm interested. What is called and who is it by? Do you mean Billy Collin's "Forgetting"? I think there is a line in there about sailing around the room, bouncing between book shelves or something

@leslieyoung6286 5 жыл бұрын

I don't know if you'll see this reply after 5 years. Maybe you are thinking of the opening lines of Billy Collins' "Lanyard": The other day I was ricocheting slowly off the blue walls of this room, moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano, from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,

@793TFR 12 жыл бұрын

Where does the last one appear in print??

@ALI3N59 12 жыл бұрын

Great video!

@AlphaNumeric123 11 жыл бұрын

Anyone who likes this should check out -- the art of drowning by billy collins -- it's by far the most successful combination of the two mediums, I think

@h4h4h4118 2 жыл бұрын

I like this dude.

@justjuanamany 12 жыл бұрын

last poem starts at 12:30 i watched it from the start though.

@danieljamesaraujo 12 жыл бұрын

7:54 the River Lethe!

@Rulerofwax24 12 жыл бұрын

I really like Collins, but I am a big fan of the poetry he showed (maybe because I had time to put up my defenses). I did really like his country poem, and the last one reminded me of my dad.

@yubedude 12 жыл бұрын

Mr Collins you have crippled my shields. In youth I did not like poetry. Once, I was given the choice between attending a smoke filled coffee house poetry slam and having my molars extracted. Today I no longer am able to enjoy hearty grained breads. Mr Collins you have destroyed my shields and have opened my eyes and ears, I turn to my Number One and order a full about face. My order is to proceed to the Collins universe at light-speed as all resistance is futile. "Make it so, engage!"

@56jmoney 12 жыл бұрын

how can i change the resolution to 240p? Can I enter a web address? Is there a command? Someone help! Please Some videos aren't allowing me to choose 240p quality. And I have DSL, I need shitty quality to be able to view in real time (instead of waiting for the video to download).... Still waiting for this to DL...... Please someone, teach me how to DL or view the 240p version.

@salvation7141 10 жыл бұрын

what about sailing around the room?

@bookrazy 11 жыл бұрын

I liked them all very much, but as a 17 year old girl the last poem made me more anxious than amused

@possummagic1341 4 жыл бұрын

How's it being a 23 yr old girl? This is coming from a 17 yr old girl.

@renetto 12 жыл бұрын

Nice...

@ariesfairies 12 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video link.. ..But why me?

@MDMAAOK 12 жыл бұрын

Let's clarify something for you, TED is an acronym for Technology, Entertainment and Design. This talk I believe falls under entertainment. As would talks from Andrew Stanton, J.J. Abram's and David Blaine to name a few, which also highlights the fact that you mustn't have seen many TED talks at all. Additionally, to criticise this guys I.Q, brings to mind your own deficiencies. Although you are entitled to your opinion, as narrow as they are :)

@AnthonyW07 12 жыл бұрын

no volume? or is it me

@OctoberEmbers 12 жыл бұрын

Direct hit.

@amherst88 12 жыл бұрын

Try Lethe

@joelfry4982 11 жыл бұрын

This is not prose poetry. It's lyric free verse. The poems include line breaks, and are discursive enough to warrant separate stanzas. Though Collins often utilizes structured free verse (free verse in which each stanza has the same number of lines--something I find almost impossible to achieve) it is possible that these poems have a looser construction on the page. I have yet to read a Billy Collins poem which is formatted as a prose poem.

@lukejmaclean 12 жыл бұрын

first time in the history of entertainment that the screen writer gets all the credit. Yeah, the producer or director of this show should of had the old fella to introduce these shorts properly

@m4lvolio 12 жыл бұрын

Is he Steven Wright's brother?

@PlumTurtle 12 жыл бұрын

A fun presentation, but I wish he had given credit/recognition to the animator(s).

@HupraNET 12 жыл бұрын

0:15

@brianfeathers7473 9 жыл бұрын

Lieutenant. Remind me to explain to you the concept of the human ego.

@DeoMachina 12 жыл бұрын

How does a witty guy like that write such dull poetry?

@Buckets41369 11 жыл бұрын

10:25 Promouseous?

@wojovox 12 жыл бұрын

That's the thing about poetry, I either fucking love it or I fucking hate it. In this case, it's the latter. I understand that people are going to like this. Well, there's also people like me.

@GrahenKraken 12 жыл бұрын

i know what you mean, and i do agree, but i just see this more as book-material (for a lack of better term) than a song.. still the way of turning feeling and imagery into text is amazing, but thats just my opinion.. its good, i just find it wrongfully classified..

@jrnyenhuis 12 жыл бұрын

Mr. Collins, your poems have all the excitement of a recommended dietary allowance.

@salahhe 12 жыл бұрын

I hate poetry but this guy's writing is good.

@TheDeathofGrace 12 жыл бұрын

was that a poem?

@ElectricIguana 12 жыл бұрын

Bueller...Bueller...

@DeadWhiteButterflies 12 жыл бұрын

His voice in the animation sounds like GLaDOS XD

@veronicaramirez802 5 жыл бұрын

Is this Billy Collins the same guy who use to box??

@powerlegends7437 5 жыл бұрын

Same question.

@FinallyGotATubeName 12 жыл бұрын

I'm not the only one who is now afraid of matches right?

@ExclusiveManual 12 жыл бұрын

"smoking and drinking" is that a typical poet thing?

@ericavarela6754 4 жыл бұрын

Speaking for myself, they do come hand to hand; many times :)

@hank1519 4 жыл бұрын

@@ericavarela6754 Long tradition of debauched poets.

@theoceanviewgirl 11 жыл бұрын

Please try to write several of this type of poem, perform it in public, send it out for publication. After these experiences, please comment, again. It's good to broaden one's horizons. Until then, a comment like, "I don't care for (or, perhaps, understand) these poems, or their purpose," might be both kinder and more appropriate. Thank you

@bunkoolink 4 жыл бұрын

boomer

@Meaux55 12 жыл бұрын

I am amazed that 27 people disliked this.

@CrueLove 12 жыл бұрын

I haven't watched the whole video yet but I have to say that the narrator could use a little more stressing. As nice as the poems are, he really sounds like that old speech robot youtube had a while ago.

@RunInterviews 12 жыл бұрын

like the idea, should have gotten lil wayne to recite his poems though...this guy is definitely a better writer than verbalist

@jamesmichaelbier 7 жыл бұрын

god bless wilfred owen ww1 soldier and poet.

@GrahenKraken 12 жыл бұрын

no no no, dont get me wrong, im not saying this is easy etc. i just think of this more like storywriting than poetry... just my 2 cents, still, the man has talent ofc..

@dreamdimensions 12 жыл бұрын

I beg to differ :)

@Boreasos 12 жыл бұрын

I hate poetry, but this is pretty good.

@purv989 12 жыл бұрын

@Shark781227 Poetry is just rhyming? Wow, one of the most absurd statements I've ever heard. There's skill in meter and conveying images and emotions. All of which can be, and usually is done at its best without rhyming.

@GrahenKraken 12 жыл бұрын

totally agreed... this is just reading a story, not really poetry... without rhymes i dont really understand the skill taken to do it... (not saying anyone could write this, but come on...)