The Best Cigarette

Billy Collins, former US Poet Laureate and one of America's best-selling poets, reads his poem "The Best Cigarette" with animation by David Vaio of FAD.

Noted for their intelligent humor, accessibility and observations on daily life, Collins' popular poems come alive further in a series of animated poems produced by JWT-NY.

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The Poem - There are many that I miss having sent my last one out a car window sparking along the road one night, years ago. The heralded one, of course: after sex, the two glowing tips now the lights of a single ship; at the end of a long dinner with more wine to come and a smoke ring coasting into the chandelier; or on a white beach, holding one with fingers still wet from a swim. How bittersweet these punctuations of flame and gesture; but the best were on those mornings when I would have a little something going in the typewriter, the sun bright in the windows, maybe some Berlioz on in the background. I would go into the kitchen for coffee and on the way back to the page, curled in its roller, I would light one up and feel its dry rush mix with the dark taste of coffee. Then I would be my own locomotive, trailing behind me as I returned to work little puffs of smoke, indicators of progress, signs of industry and thought, the signal that told the nineteenth century it was moving forward. That was the best cigarette, when I would steam into the study full of vaporous hope and stand there, the big headlamp of my face pointed down at all the words in parallel lines.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Micah Isser]

The only true weakness is habit, since when it forms, we struggle so to break it. As Beckett said, "Habit is the ballast that chains the dog to his vomit". Cigarettes are, for me, a symbol of this humanity and vulnerability. For when, in a drunken stupor, i feel the butt rest upon my lips, i know, with certainty, that my commitment, my better judgment, my reason and my will have been broken by desire.

[Aleksandra Lazarevic]

sobranie black russian are the best cigarettes ever..for me of course :3 ..they are similar to black devil

[cronot7]

thumbs up for cancer

[Gucka Shurghaia]

Thumbs up If You smoke Marlboro Red

[nick lucante]

L&M red pack is the best

[todanes]

This is so bourgey and sounds like an advert

[2698martin]

it sounds like a description of my ex girlfriend haha



[Merveilleux202]

2 weeks without smoking...

[ivan ivanov]

I can't understand the nonsmokers, we do this for us not for you..

We chose this and if we continue to do it it means we like it..

Firstly look yourself in the mirror then look at the others..

[MightyMartel]

I quit but I still love a good smoke. Craving one right now but I won't give!