Billy Collins Creativity Conversation

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, English professor and MARBL curator Kevin Young, and Emory University Vice President and Secretary Rosemary Magee discuss the creative process and the influence of experiences and ideas. Collins, a well-known NPR guest, fills his poetry with insightful observations into everyday life, sometimes exploring difficult themes with thoughtful humor.

[@arisasis7502]

Billy correctly stated that 83% of contemporary poetry is unreadable. How true. I like Billy's poems because he creates a balance between verbal rhythm and meaning. A poem must be more than just a compendium of disparate images that sound nice. It must mean something to me - the reader.

[@thelegendrubyrodd]

billy knows his stuff. im happy i took the time to finally take a look into his work.

[@fozzythealbino]

you can go a head and skip to 6:00 the first few minutes are just announcements.

[@isaaugustine7394]

God bless you

[@CalebGriffinEsq]

Thanks!

[@fozzythealbino]

@@CalebGriffinEsq I made this comment 7 years ago. I love the permanence of the internet. glad I could help.

[@loganarowland]

You go before us, my friend. Thank you for your service.

[@Hello_Poetry-]

Thank you!

[@poem]

❤️‍🔥 “Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I'm not going to make it, but you laugh inside - remembering all the times you've felt that way.” ❤️‍🔥 ― Charles Bukowski 😎

[@karenharvey2549]

I really enjoyed listening in. Thank you.

[@justhumanoidmusic]

Thank you for sharing this amazing video, i thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

[@kurtmuroki]

Music is spoken, but not always. Music is sung, but not always. “There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original.” - Joseph Haydn

[@salvation7141]

the sound was messing up because the micros on their clothes were set too high AND close to each other.

[@rievans57]

I could have a beer with Kevin Young. He seems like such a laid back, cool, kinda' dude.

[@pakk82]

the mixer person is completely unprepared.

[@goodnatureart]

wonderful!

[@TheMonsterAtTheEnd]

At the 7:50 mark, please, what is the term he uses?

[@deepanjanchhetri]

L'esprit de l'escalier (I took the help of my French friend to decode it. It has a funny meaning) :)

[@richardcooper5198]

Things you thought of that you would have to have - like when going down the stairs just after a party finished

[@richardcooper5198]

"to have said" . . .

[@toddboothbee1361]

Todd Boothbee, Poet or Wile E. Coyote, Genius

[@jae2686]

I once heard that tennis is a game where you want to commit murder because you want to slay your opponent, and golf is a game of suicide because you want to kill yourself. Writing a book is like playing tennis, writing poetry is like playing golf? Also, on the role of music in art this quote from Walter Pater, “All art constantly aspires towards the condition music”

[@OLIVER3269]

...field where like quick liquor evil flames quicker inside each brain that shrinks into sickness in jungles of human guilt which dwells more with stains of curses.....

[@nononouh]

44 55

[@igoswimmingalot]

Billy seemed like an interesting and humorous guy, but I wholeheartedly disagree with his views on teaching poetry. In his view, all poetry is referential to other poetry, but this isn't, nor shouldn't be true. Self-insulated art doesn't grow, and becomes stagnant. Instead, students should be encouraged to pull from other art forms, the people around them, AND from their internal voice. I would ask Billy, where did his writing come from, if not at least partially from his own voice? If his own work was purely imitation, then I personally don't have much interest/respect for it, as I value creative impulse above all else.

[@alekdaniels]

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[@alekdaniels]

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[@joanselby3224]

Introduction is too long

[@jlee54]

How sad that the whole thing was ruined by an incompetent sound guy.