Poetry Everywhere: "The Lanyard" by Billy Collins

[@ArtyWildmaker]

Such a wonderful perfect view from following directions, to the sentiment of it all. When I was a Blue Bird scout once, I made a CARNATION from a Kleenex and a bobby pin for my mother. The camp director showed us how to fluff it up and make it look flowery. To some it represented a beautiful flower. Presenting it proudly to my mother on Mother's Day, she took it and said, "What is this toilet paper on a bobby pin?" I think I developed my sense of humor from these events.

[@hopesnopes]

things can be funny as hell AND beautiful and true and make you cry. This guy is my generation and we ALL made lanyards in the Brownie Scouts or camp, and we also glued together popsicle sticks into forms, spray painted 'em gold and gave those to our moms. I laughed out loud, but also cried, it's a wonderful, very true poem. By the way, I have a "frame" made out of glued together kidney beans that surrounds a bad polaroid of my daughter, Rose, when she was 7. I love it.

[@maryanneweldon8040]

Stumbled across this quite some time ago. I watched and listened. Today,I think of "The Lanyard" on a regular basis. As a Boy Scout we would go to Camp Child or Camp Squanto for 2 weeks every Summer. During woodworking, earning the Carpentry Merit badge,I think,we sometimes made these lanyards,or something resembling them. My mom was always so happy when gifted the things we made at camp. The bird houses were the norm. But there was a time when I gifted her with a leather (scrap leather) key holder lanyard. She hugged me,and used it for her many keys,for years. Mom still has it,it's now in her "Hope Chest". A chest of drawers to hold keepsakes. Mothers are amazing in so so many different ways. ❤(This is Daniel. MaryAnne's boyfriend. I just wanted to share a memory) Thankyou for reading this❤👍😊

[@Mosesarron]

The equity of the poem is that which resides in the heart of the mother and her little boy. Keeping that in mind; the poem never loses it's profound meaning no matter how we age. We give in return everything we have to give to those who love us with such a sacrificial love.

[@rodgerb5056]

Not a poet I was familiar with but I enjoyed the humor and sadness expressed.

[@ldevon2318]

I was very surprised when the audience laughed during the reading. That was not my experience when first reading this poem. It's interesting how so many people in this room laughed audibly. I found this to be deeply moving and actually less and less comical the more I read it.

[@afrocubanita1969]

I just saw the episode on PBS (NJ). Very touching...!

[@PiotelII]

Thank you for sharing. Since a lanyard is, "a rope or cord often worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times," I would happily accept a lanyard from my boys and hope it keeps us forever close.

[@dbfr2017]

@sheaton319 Sure it is. Perhaps not if you just read it, but Billy Collin's deeply sarcastic tone is hilarious.

[@donnaseifer3025]

Very touching.

[@mrsrkeppner]

As a mother, I can completely appreciate this! :-D

[@CTJ2619]

lovely poem

[@gonzalobarriora]

I admire this poet.

[@rabiaaladawiya8710]

LOVE

[@benspoetrychannel2109]

This would be the perfect poem to read for Mother's Day. This poem also reminds me of an Oscar Wilde quote: “The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless.” The lanyard is a useless thing, but in the eyes of the boy/speaker of the poem, it's valuable enough to pay his mother back for all the years of care and devotion she gave to him.

[@karlamarieperez247]

yea me too!!

[@Jan96106]

I've heard him read this to three groups, and only one doesn't laugh. Although many of his poems are humorous, this one, I do not believe, was meant to be. Nor do I find it so. It was meant to be, and is, deeply moving. If my mother were still alive, I would give it to her. I know she would understand what I was saying and she too would cry just as I now am.

[@Andrewmarkbaker]

Superb. Lacking pomposity but reaches you.

[@karlamarieperez247]

Whats a lanyard?! I need to watch this for english!

[@rickyfan3956]

In my case, it wasn't a lanyard, it was a necklace made out of a bit of gold string and some turquoise and gold colored beads.

[@cultwho]

There could be nothing comical in the poem, in the beginning. But then if he had a Daughter later on, and named her Laney, it's funny now. The meaning changes to they way its written (he is remembering how his gift was nothing compared) and now as an adult, to his mother he says, here is my Laney, our daughter. Thank you mother. Showing her that the cascading of thanks to a Mother, never ends. whether its funny or not funny I'll never know, but he sure writes well