The Revenant by Billy Collins

I was in my car a while ago and turned on the car radio to NPR.  Prairie Home Companion was on, and I heard a familiar voice:  Garrison Keillor was Guy Noir, of course, but the other distinctive voice was Billy Collins.  I first heard Mr. Collins read his poetry on this same show a few years ago, when he was Poet Laureate of the United States.  I loved his somewhat quirky poetry so much that I ordered his CD:  "The Best Cigarette", a collection of his poems read by in his soft voice.

He read his new poem "The Revenant" (a revenant is one who has returned from death) on Prairie Home Companion.  You can hear him read it on his new CD, "Billy Collins Live:  A Performance at the Peter Norton Symphony Space".

Here's the thing.  I just did a long post about Collins's poem "The Lanyard", which I first heard years ago and liked very much.  When I went back to link to some of my other Collins posts, I found I had already done a post about "The Lanyard", thank you very much.  And so another poem of his entitled "Forgetfulness" is probably most relevant here. 

The Revenant  by Billy Collins

I am the dog you put to sleep,
as you like to call the needle of oblivion,
come back to tell you this simple thing:
I never liked you--not one bit.

When I licked your face,
I thought of biting off your nose.
When I watched you toweling yourself dry,
I wanted to leap and unman you with a snap.

I resented the way you moved,
your lack of animal grace,
the way you would sit in a chair and eat,
a napkin on your lap, knife in your hand.

I would have run away,
but I was too weak, a trick you taught me
while I was learning to sit and heel,
and--greatest of insults--shake hands without a hand.

I admit the sight of the leash
would excite me
but only because it meant I was about
to smell things you had never touched.

You do not want to believe this,
but I have no reason to lie.
I hated the car, the rubber toys,
disliked your friends and, worse, your relatives.

The jingling of my tags drove me mad.
You always scratched me in the wrong place.
All I ever wanted from you
was food and fresh water in my metal bowls.

While you slept, I watched you breathe
as the moon rose in the sky.
It took all my strength
not to raise my head and howl.

Now I am free of the collar,
the yellow raincoat, monogrammed sweater,
the absurdity of your lawn,
and that is all you need to know about this place

except what you already supposed
and are glad it did not happen sooner--
that everyone here can read and write,
the dogs in poetry, the cats and the others in prose.

Illustration from Crawley Creatures

Comments

[Jane]

I also heard him read this poem on NPR one evening while driving in the car. It was great. Thanks for posting.
Jane

[JJ Cale]

I heard the poem at Keillor as well. Thank you for posting it.

[Coty]

So glad to have been led to this post, this poem, and your blog.

"Books Stacked Next to the Bed" is a list I should add to my blog.

Thanks,
Coty

[linda]

Thank you so much. After listening to the same radio show, I looked all over for this poem. I teach reading to struggling high school students. We are reading and writing poetry every Friday till the end of the year. Have the poet read their own work is so powerful. Thanks Thanks Thanks!

[Seamus]

Would someone explain the poem to me please, and why people
like it.

[ridnosr]

Memo to "Seamus" who asked 'for an explanation' of "The Revenant" and 'why people like it?' The pop culture to which you are addicted overwhelms any understanding you will ever seek of Billy Collins' work. Just listen & chat more on your cell phone and manipulate your Ipod;keep your cap on backwards and don't sweat understanding anything.

[anonymous]

Memo to ridnosr: You are an ignorant fool who feels no sympathy for the less fortunate but intellectually curious members of society.

[SE]

Loser! I'm sorry, why do we indulge this narcissistic tripe!

[Dan]

Saw Billy last year. Have been lured into the lack of drama and pretension.
More importantly, I am fascinated by this radio nation that has connected and laughed together.

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i like this part of the blog:"While you slept, I watched you breathe
as the moon rose in the sky.
It took all my strength
not to raise my head and howl." is very good

[Fred]

Well written poem about one ungrateful dog. I'll forever be careful about undressing in front of mine!

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Well-written review! I saw his show in Paris last November. Similar set list, but without the cover songs. I am looking forward to seeing him in San Francisco this weekend. It's a shame Richard Hawley isn't along for the ride.

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I didn't know nothing about Billy collins, but After I read your blog. I think that I will give a try. I ain't a poetry lover but I have some writers that I really like the way that they write poetry between them. Benedetti is there.

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[Camarad]

A good blog! I teach reading to struggling high school students. We are reading and writing poetry every Friday till the end of the year. Have the poet read their own work is so powerful. Thanks Thanks Thanks!

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Such a substantial read to have. It was nice to know about the book.

[Sandra Bullock]

I think, this theme is quite actual now. Here's the thing. I just did a long post about Collins's poem "The Lanyard", which I first heard years ago and liked very much.

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