This poem had me crying by the end. I am the mother of two children with autism. I often worry that I’m not good or strong enough for them. But this poem made me stop and think for a moment. I have to be doing something right; my daughter loves to paint watercolor portraits for me, my son lets me into his world when he sits me down and lets me play trains with him and gives me his favorite one. Those simple, inconsequential things that are so often taken for granted by parents mean the world to me. That is how they show me love and helps me remember that I’m good enough. Thank you.
The mother's gratitude was part of what allowed him to think, as a young boy, that the lanyard was enough. And that is yet another gift she gave him. I love this poem so much.
I heard this many many years ago before the age of TH-cam and laughed and cried and felt so moved by it I looked it up and printed it out and every so often I read it so no matter how you got here I am glad you are here 😁
oddly, this poem, called the lanyard, is one of Collins' "lanyards", and a very respectable one at that. What more could any mother want, then a poet laureate son who deems himself unable to requite his mothers love, and writting so in a poem.
As I have read this poem many times I have never found it to be comical. Although it is funny in the correct light, I see it as one of the greatest tributes and truths of motherhood.
So, I work as the First-Year Camper director at a Boy Scout Camp. I confess that I am responsible for the creation of several hundred lanyards per year. And I still don't really know what they're for.
It could be anywhere at any time. It's up to you. Unless you sent a child to summer camp in the 50s it won't be a reality, but symbolic. Maybe a clay bowl from kindergarten or a pencil drawing of family. You have one now if you recognise it.
I made one in the Cub Scouts. Only now I realize how little use those things were. His poem made me see my own funny seriousness about getting it right. It was a kind of magic, though. Billy Collin's imagination makes him great.
I was just about to reply to that when I saw this. Glad I caught it or I would have felt silly and redundant. As for the stereotype, I think it exists for some people, but I don't think it has anything to do with Proust's petite madeleine in the Swann's Way Cambray (Overture), which Collins refers too in this WONDERFUL poem.
@tiff201208 I think you mean Shane K., as in Canadian poet Shane Koyczan. He did perform The Lanyard at WordsAloud, but forgot to give credit to Collins. He sincerely apologized for the mistake. I can see why, in this case, you might think it's one of his works. But no, it is most definitely a poem by Billy Collins.
man i gave my mom a bunch of "lanyards" in form of clothspin birdhouses, paintings, etc. But my mom really appreciated it. I think b/c it wasn't an attempt at repayment. Our efforts in most other respects were the repayment, I think. This gift was, it is true, some token of our appreciation however. But a token and not a full payment in a transaction. The fact that we dont really understand why we do it, especially due to someone elses suggstion is where Bill dupes us. Funny, none the less.
A better answer: This reference is certainly to the French novelist Marcel Proust's famous novel, Remembrance of Things Past. The narrator eats a sort of "cookie" (a "Madeleine") and is fully carried away into the past. Collins's poetry is full of such literary references. Who says French novelists are snotty?
It's interesting hearing it read out loud...I don't know if I see it as humorous as the audience did,(that is not to say that it's without humor). Putsit in another perspective that's for sure. I'm interested to hear other's thoughts.
Why would you throw up advertising text in the middle of the recitation? Seems so... thoughtless. Can't you just put that up at the beginning or end? You already have have the video branded.
okay, this is probably dumb, but I am not American, so I think It is okay to ask. Why is the fact that he gave her a lanyard funny? I found the poem nice, but can't get why the lanyard makes it funny. Is it because it is easy to make?
Robertson Klaingar it’s because of the insignificance of the lanyard, it’s not necessarily American thing, it’s because of the insignificance of string and paper which makes a lanyard and how he thinks it’s enough to repay his mother
It's the childishness of thinking that a nearly valueless item is an adequate way of paying his mother back for all her hard work and investment relating to him.
@losttribedreams "Maybe if I sprinkle as many words I pulled out of a thesaurus and as much of my tangential knowledge of what is considered 'fine art' as I can, I will seem awesome and high-brow."
... an has two main themes. One is a parent's sacrificial love for her child that gives without expectation of reward. The other is the self-centeredness and naiveté of youth that accepts parental love and cannot ever offer adequate remuneration
This poem had me crying by the end. I am the mother of two children with autism. I often worry that I’m not good or strong enough for them. But this poem made me stop and think for a moment. I have to be doing something right; my daughter loves to paint watercolor portraits for me, my son lets me into his world when he sits me down and lets me play trains with him and gives me his favorite one. Those simple, inconsequential things that are so often taken for granted by parents mean the world to me. That is how they show me love and helps me remember that I’m good enough. Thank you.
Every time I read one of Collins' poems, I hear his voice as it is here.
same
Lies
@@satan4hire🙄
I love this poem. He deserved the Mark Twain award for humor. Absolutely brilliant! It's spot on in regards to the love a mother has for her child.
The mother's gratitude was part of what allowed him to think, as a young boy, that the lanyard was enough. And that is yet another gift she gave him. I love this poem so much.
And if I were to get that lanyard, I would wear it every day and know the love it represents. Thank you...this was wonderful.
One of my favorite poems. Thank you, Mr. Collins.
I still have a blue and yellow lanyard my son made at his camp!❤
hands down one of my all time favourite poems
I'm here because I took Mr. Collins' MasterClass and it was amazing!
I heard this many many years ago before the age of TH-cam and laughed and cried and felt so moved by it I looked it up and printed it out and every so often I read it so no matter how you got here I am glad you are here 😁
to be able to transition so smoothly from sardonic wit to beautiful words that speak in earnest...billy collins, you are why i write
oddly, this poem, called the lanyard, is one of Collins' "lanyards", and a very respectable one at that. What more could any mother want, then a poet laureate son who deems himself unable to requite his mothers love, and writting so in a poem.
I love this poem. It makes a gift for Mother's day.
I heard this for the first time today--at a memorial service. I had to check out this video!
Over the years, I have read many of Billy's poems; The Lanyard is the one I remember best.
As I have read this poem many times I have never found it to be comical. Although it is funny in the correct light, I see it as one of the greatest tributes and truths of motherhood.
Who's here from Misha's tweet? 💖
Me!
Mee!! 😂
Meee
Mee
Same here
I love this poem so much! Billy Collins is brilliant.
Such a beautiful poem
I'm here because of Misha's tweet ❤
This is just so brilliant.
I LOVE this poem, but I think I owe my mom a lanyard now...
Mishaaaa
Reminds me of what I neeeded to be reminded of
thats now one of my favorites
So, I work as the First-Year Camper director at a Boy Scout Camp.
I confess that I am responsible for the creation of several hundred lanyards per year. And I still don't really know what they're for.
Here from Misha Collins's tweet. And am I glad to have opened the link!
Thank you, Jonas, for giving me this Mother's Day poem. I love you.
Beautiful 💜
I'm here because the overlord told me so, but I confess, love the poem. Thanks misha collins
thank you Misha Collins for sending me here, what a great reading! XD
I've been recommended this guy by a friend, He's a good writer from what I gather so far. Enjoyed this poem. Funny and in places pretty touching.
A beautiful poem, sent by a beautiful Son!
Brilliant!
Hi misha... Just leaving this here for when u visit again ❤️
Here in 2024. Genius❤
😂loved this....where is my lanyard?
It could be anywhere at any time. It's up to you. Unless you sent a child to summer camp in the 50s it won't be a reality, but symbolic. Maybe a clay bowl from kindergarten or a pencil drawing of family. You have one now if you recognise it.
Thank you..
I cried.
I’m only laughing because I know I’ll be sobbing when I stop
So good...
A bunch of people are about to be here because of Misha Collins, so watch out!!
@Relinda Powmor`You're missing out if you don't know who Misha is
@@hualian_baru He's such an angel, isn't he?
I'm here because of my overlord misha collins
you too from twitter? 😂
@@tamara-ke2el yes from his twitter post yesterday :)
I love this poem.
Wonderful
He is a treasure!
I like this poem. A small thing that makes a big impression.
.... Misha
I made one in the Cub Scouts. Only now I realize how little use those things were. His poem made me see my own funny seriousness about getting it right. It was a kind of magic, though. Billy Collin's imagination makes him great.
ah yes... one of my favorite by billy collins.
I was just about to reply to that when I saw this. Glad I caught it or I would have felt silly and redundant. As for the stereotype, I think it exists for some people, but I don't think it has anything to do with Proust's petite madeleine in the Swann's Way Cambray (Overture), which Collins refers too in this WONDERFUL poem.
@tiff201208 I think you mean Shane K., as in Canadian poet Shane Koyczan. He did perform The Lanyard at WordsAloud, but forgot to give credit to Collins. He sincerely apologized for the mistake.
I can see why, in this case, you might think it's one of his works. But no, it is most definitely a poem by Billy Collins.
I had to watch this video for my English class and I was expecting to be bored...Quite the contrary. I liked it a lot.
Billy Collins is alright, but I like the sentiment in this poem. I love my mom.
"Siin on sulle pael" :D Tänan, Hr. Collins. :)
Who's here cause of Misha?
Me me me 😍😍
Word.
I'm here thanks to Misha 😂
@BillyCollins: You're going to get a lot of hits in the next few weeks, courtesy of @MishaCollins. #MishasMinions #mishamigos #GISH
last thursday my Lit teacher openly addmitted in large group to all 150 Lit students that he had a mancrush on this poet.
i don't blame him.
I want to be an Award Winning Poet!
@doIsoundlikeicare wow, your emphasize is so concise. Reading your comment helps me understand the poem. :D
man i gave my mom a bunch of "lanyards" in form of clothspin birdhouses, paintings, etc. But my mom really appreciated it. I think b/c it wasn't an attempt at repayment. Our efforts in most other respects were the repayment, I think. This gift was, it is true, some token of our appreciation however. But a token and not a full payment in a transaction. The fact that we dont really understand why we do it, especially due to someone elses suggstion is where Bill dupes us. Funny, none the less.
i love his baldness combined with wry wit.
A better answer: This reference is certainly to the French novelist Marcel Proust's famous novel, Remembrance of Things Past. The narrator eats a sort of "cookie" (a "Madeleine") and is fully carried away into the past. Collins's poetry is full of such literary references.
Who says French novelists are snotty?
It's interesting hearing it read out loud...I don't know if I see it as humorous as the audience did,(that is not to say that it's without humor). Putsit in another perspective that's for sure. I'm interested to hear other's thoughts.
forgive my ignorance but what is a laureate? are there biology or music laureates? or is the title reserved for poets?
What I love about poetry is that I think this is terrible yet others like it.
@losttribedreams Really?
I find this poem to be aggresively hilarious, I laugh and cry uncontrollably when I hear this version, YIP
Why would you throw up advertising text in the middle of the recitation? Seems so... thoughtless. Can't you just put that up at the beginning or end? You already have have the video branded.
Hi
@ljeffrie this is the answer for sure
good evening
i dunno which's more kickass.
lanyards...
or billy collins.
definitely a reference to Proust.
Oh frabjous day!
Anyone else think he sounds like Ben Linus from Lost?
okay, this is probably dumb, but I am not American, so I think It is okay to ask. Why is the fact that he gave her a lanyard funny? I found the poem nice, but can't get why the lanyard makes it funny. Is it because it is easy to make?
Robertson Klaingar it’s because of the insignificance of the lanyard, it’s not necessarily American thing, it’s because of the insignificance of string and paper which makes a lanyard and how he thinks it’s enough to repay his mother
It's the childishness of thinking that a nearly valueless item is an adequate way of paying his mother back for all her hard work and investment relating to him.
It's not "funny". The reason those people in the audience were cackling is because they were morons.
godfrey14, it's because it was intended to humorous.
The cheerios one was better. I like cheerios and tacos.
@octopuscollective Never ignorant to ask. Wikipedia has a good answer under Poets Laureate of the United States.
Thanks mom :)
@wrathof ... at least you didn't try pretending to be nice...
Doug Wilson sent me.
This is a son,to his mom.
I'm here cuz of school
this is from a poet in canada shane w.
@losttribedreams "Maybe if I sprinkle as many words I pulled out of a thesaurus and as much of my tangential knowledge of what is considered 'fine art' as I can, I will seem awesome and high-brow."
this is pretty among us sus airpod shotty
This makes me think of Jesus.
@DBIYBIMWBIU Really? Really. Perhaps, you will become Poet Laureate, as well, and find a sense of humor.
Sorry, I'm not a fan.
Everyone say “Thank you Misha”
... an has two main themes. One is a parent's sacrificial love for her child that gives without expectation of reward. The other is the self-centeredness and naiveté of youth that accepts parental love and cannot ever offer adequate remuneration