The Country - Billy Collins Animated Poetry

[acari27]

its a brilliant poem..very observant, very imaginative and beautifully quirky...

[halynamyroslava]

Great thanks

[MagicTurdd]

that was gay as fuck

[TriCountyScholar]

I LOVE THIS!! I need a person to do this type of animation for a poem being read in a doc I'm shooting. I will pay good money, per hour. Are you interested?

jaredcasey64 at g mail

[PeopleIHangOutWith]

I listen to this poem very often, it's so good!

[keylimepie1008]

brilliant...the sort of humor most Americans don't get. Sorry for being elitist but that's what makes it all the more delicious for those of us who do.

shhh don't tell anyone...They still think They know better.

Go Mice!

[bobdylan1271]

I worried about 9 People when they say they didn't like this video.

[themredweirdoshow]

A very flawed poem - most people just keep such potentially dangerous items hidden in the lettuce crisper of the refrigerator.

Last I checked, kids still avoid vegetables like the plague, and mice still aren't able to open fridge doors.

[DwiteTheSpriteKnight]

@themredweirdoshow come on don't let the facts get in the way of a good story (-: I don't think it's one of Billy Collins best but I don't think I've ever seen a bad poem written by him.

[acari27]

billy collins has the best reading voice i dont care what anyone here says...the people that dont get it probably dont READ full stop

[DwiteTheSpriteKnight]

@acari27 I guess some people just don't appreciate his style. They want to hear something that's more theatrical, they want every poet to be a slam poet. I often find Billy Collins voice very entrancing and full of subtle variations that mean a lot.

[ppanpeterpan24]

This is the most absurd thing I've ever seen in the whole Western civilization. His voice sucks, too.

[acari27]

@ppanpeterpan24 thats because youre probably an emo fan

[TheVirgoClown]

What album is this from? I like his voice in this a lot. It is so relaxing

[professionalnovice]

bringhurst @ 0:18

[brusselstarlight]

i rather have Stephen Hawking read my poetry. It might have more passion if he read it.

[artswebshow]

Excellent video.



[smile678]

it sounds llike they typed it into that computer voice

[quintopia]

The poem is a little funny, but the Matrix-style techno mouse rave had me laughing out loud.

[2DarkHorizon]

I love this poem. I think this poem is about our fear of ignorant or inexperience people sabotaging our thoughtful efforts in a stroke of heedlessness

[NextToNothing123]

that was so well done! thank you

[Guppypants]

This poem has a lot going on!

[redeoghan]

Awesome, great animation and poem.

[LIMEgreen555]

the delivery is is always so monotone and stilted which i feel works better in your video for "Forgetfulness", still though this is great work. its almost mesmerizing; it has a calming, trancelike effect on me

[BryanToomey]

Cool!

[CoralBaisch]

Awesome poem and fantastic animation. *watches and listens to for the third time today*

[NIcolaGrossi81]

Fantastic!

[Annie0854]

I love the way you recite the poem.

Great work!

[whsdancer123]

HAHA that wuz funneh ((BECCA WAS HERE! -go stiegal!!!-))

[Veganizemecapn]

ha-i love the animation and how it goes together with the "poetry"

[ineverfakejumps]

Is this the use of a conceit?

[FlannelFrenzy]

I'm really not a big fan of poetry, but I think this is pretty cool

[rszocs]

I like it!

[acari27]

i love lanyard and all the rest but this is my favourite-born to read borne to be read

[tomasocarthaigh]

Unique poem!!! Watch them darned mice!!!

[sylvestermeow]

Billy Collins is well represented in this nice, video short.

[forestgumpaed]

this is so profound,but surreal.

[NGC7252]

i love them

[MilesMuhldoon]

lmao! you fuckers are so predictable as you are hysteria driven. get a new script.

-Mhuldoon

[uwi2]

Great poems... Good video!

[aiwala]

Right!

;.-)

[lopito37]

EXCELSUS!!

[lalalamanon]

This is really great, a great poem and you really made an awesome video.

[invisibletime]

i love this poem. and video

[saulespukeee]

nice one.:)

[zaraaaazar]

I Love the poem and the animation that goes with it! Wish i could give you more than 5 stars~~:))

[oruga101]

I wish someone would animate my poems and read them in a dull monotone.

[lalalamanon]

yeah me too! xD

[NextToNothing123]

@oruga101 sounds exactly like the poet to me

[speakZarathustra]

@oruga101 That's Billy Collin's actual voice...

[oruga101]

@speakZarathustra

I don't like the guy.

[krealle]

@oruga101 It's totally billy collins reading his own poem in a dull monotone. Although I'd say it's hardly a dull monotone.

But yeah. The animation is sweet.

[DwiteTheSpriteKnight]

@oruga101 I like the combination of the reader sounding so serious while reading something so absurd. While there wasn't any dramatic vocal variety I don't think it was excessively monotone or dull. It all depends what you're looking for though doesn't it. Maybe you could post a reading of this poem just to show how you would like it to be read so that we can make the comparison.

[oruga101]

@DwiteTheSpriteKnight

I'm not going to put time and effort into making a recording of myself reading a poem by a poet who I don't even like. If I was going to record myself reading, it would be of a poem that is more suited to my tastes and ideals, like Mr. Flood's Party or Birches.

[zebenydu58]

@oruga101 I think it is a computer that is "reading" it. Very similar to the Mac one in any case.

[kachunski]

WOW! im speechless

[azngurl321]

Happy Birthday Billy Collins!!!!

[ieyey]

nice animation.

nice poem.

nice nice.

[loveyoutodeathbut]

Oh my goodness.

[kimosogi]

i love this poem. this video is so funny.

[Jeffro303rd]

that was f#c&kin sweet

[allthingscarrot]

that was so vivid i cud picture it even withoutb the animation,, felt the mice was like in an olypic games except his moment of glory, although laragely accidental affected his fellow mice negatively

[myrionymos]

this is lovely!

[jenniferemmamcm]

I really love this guy, he's one of my favorite poets, along side Sylvia Plath, Seamus Heaney & Patrick Lewis Strachan. I recently read Plath's ARIEL again and I am astonished at the woman's artistic genius and she is, like Billy Collins, one of the great American poets. Also read Strachan's CHILDREN OF THE BRIAR, and it is probably the most disturbing book of poems ever written. He's easily the finest Irish poet since Heaney. Think William Blake, only darker.

[blessedRthemeek]

I LOVE this guy- so simply worded- he notices what we miss when we are hurrying about with a phone to our ear.

[kuhndog40]

Fantastic.

[Poesiefilmchen]

If you like poetry films, join the ZEBRA Poetry Film festival in Berlin (9th - 12th October)!

I've been there two years ago. It was great and inspiring...

[debmolino]

Creepy

[valland55]

excellent!

[cAsSiDyandMOOnshine]

that was really wierd. cuz i DO live in a house in the country. and i DO have a mouse problem.

[jeannevdb]

Wonderful!! :)

[FROG6002]

Thankyou very much, that was wonderul.

[yurushii]

If you all love poetry, look at my video called "Life of a Mixed Breed" It is for the open minded and the educated. I hope you will like it.

[Shinnyuu2]

poetry is for everyone ...dont flatter yourself mon ami

[TotalHalfSchizofren]

Bravo!

[RobertCrostonFilm]

I love this stuff so much!!!

[BassistNick]

Most probably, and I'm not saying this with any doubts, my favourite poet of [b]all[/b] time.

[cheekfillet33]

Listen to some of Taylor Mali's stuff.

[desertcafe]

Well done.

[JNeffLind]

If you like this poem (like I do, I love it) you should check out 'Across The Clouds' by JNeffLind. It's animated poetry in the same style as Billy Collins. Fun, unpretentious, but meaningful. I tried to post it as a video response here but for some reason they won't let me.

Best,

J

[MsWriteNow]

He's my favorite poet - Love the concept here :)

[piratecat101]

im addicted to his poetry, and your animation makes it all the better, cant wait for more

[Shinnyuu2]

"little brown druid..." his diction is so briliant

[gladmarkj]

Bravo!

[antoinecassar]

Fantastic!!

[DantesDelToro]

Very cool wordbeat 5*

[guacamolecestsibon]

wow..I come back here to watch this video again and again and it amazes me each time

[Jibber77]

words well hidden

[arezentes]

This is my favorite. How well you marry the ideas of spoken word with images in video. I will look for more as I think this is how poems are supposed to live and breathe among us.

Thanks...and bravo

[JBraden]

incredible work! are you the animator?

[Enright9591]

Wow, your work is really great. I'm in awe. Keep it up.

[MisterLobster]

Oh my god that is amazing.

[orangesuitcases]

this is absolutely incredible. I love it

[imillegal]

oh snap

another great poem

with another great animation

how does billy collins write something this great?

[rinconion]

wow

[thriftstorepatina]

I love it. The mice celebrating their discovery of fire.

[Sufiquest]

The warner turning into the face on the matchbox--the subtle allusion to the Nazi torch-lit rallies--beautifully done.

[SandyCarlson]

This is wonderful. I can hear the poem as I watch.

[terripin99]

another good job- -you do nice stuff man

[danysahne01]

nice work!

[gazingintothesea]

I love the mice in their brief joy celebrating the fire bringer.

I'd like to see "Schoolville" animated and a proper job done on "Shoveling Snow with the Buddha"

[marcelonoah]

esse cara é o que há!

[cowmandude]

I'd like to see the history teacher..:) thats my favorite.

[hesthesmartone]

Cool!

[orchid618]

these are what got me into Billy Collins poetry.  Thank you! Beautiful!

[theworkbox]

Thanks, I love these, too! Wonderful shorts - wishing for more!

[spunkycub]

Good job as usual. My favorite of yours is Walking Across the Atlantic. You should do Nostalgia or Questions About Angels, next. :)

[foroughshafiee]

You're absolutely right my friend. :) I'd love to see nostalgia!

[VonHobbit]

Man, I love Billy Collins!

[KayToTheT]

took me a minute to understand the end, but after i read the words a few times, it all made sense... very nice!! i always knew mice were evil...

[edwardchow650]

hahaha very nice

[treehamallama]

ooOoOoo Imaginatively amazing.

[dappadan123]

I love these!

[LtdAttnSpn]

Of course.

[Spiff144]

You are a poet!

[Spiff144]

Good stuff, it made me cry :'(

[dookerbaby]

thankyou for this lovely video!

[MAldoseri]

Thanks for fixn it!

Great poem..

[racham1]

THIS was SUPERB!

[daligoddess2006]

Very nice.

[FunToRelate]

don't let your rodents play with matches

[lilcookie15]

I loved it! Thanks!

[krn87]

great stuff

[rockerpixie]

that was beautiful!

[LaLaVox]

Beauty, beauty, beauty...

[Elaina43]

It is<b> Wonderful</b> to have you posting again. <i> Thank you!

[Stroopinator]

Uh oh. I better go police up my matches.

[mooitz]

Lovely! Hope to hear (and see) others.

[iCEL55]

Excellent animation!

[davidchoimusic]

beautful

[GeraldBoyClassical]

My wife loves this poem, has read it a few times at our coffee house along with some of your other poems. Thanks for posting the animated version.