
The dead are always looking down on us, they say.
while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich,
they are looking down through the glass bottom boats of heaven
as they row themselves slowly through eternity.
They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth,
and when we lie down in a field or on a couch,
drugged perhaps by the hum of a long afternoon,
they think we are looking back at them,
which makes them lift their oars and fall silent
and wait, like parents, for us to close our eyes.
14 Comments
May 23, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Thanks Marko for the information! I’ve made the necessary changes.
May 12, 2008 at 5:26 AM
you can see the “right” version on youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iuTNdHadwbk
just a word or two different…
not “eating a stake”, but ” making a sandwich”..
but anyway,it is a strong poem!
September 24, 2007 at 2:15 AM
Neato. It kinda makes me forget things I can’t remember.
May 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
it is a beutiful poem.I can`t express at the moment how I feel myself .
April 26, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Hi Regina,
Thanks for the link, and for stopping by our blog. We appreciate the positive encouragement, and we hope you stop by again
Peace and the best to you!
M.
April 25, 2007 at 4:46 PM
so beautiful!
have you seen the animation that goes with this poem? it’s linked to my friend’s poetry blog at
http://choriamb.livejournal.com/
it’s nice to hear the voices of intelligent muslim american women. thanks for the good blog.
regina
April 12, 2007 at 11:12 AM
Hi Sangho,
He is one of my favorite poets also
Thanks for stopping by our blog.
April 6, 2007 at 8:23 PM
I love to read the poems of Billy Collins including ‘The Dead’. It’s really glad to see the poet here.
March 25, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Hi Lucy,
Glad you liked the poem. It was one of the first poems I read by Billy Collins, and I also liked it. Thanks for visiting our blog
March 25, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Hi, I’m from Hungary and unfortunately I haven’t heard about Billy Collins before, but now I really love his poems, and “The Dead” is one of my favourites.
Thank you
March 22, 2007 at 12:26 PM
I’m glad it reminded you of your father Flo. Thanks for visiting our blog.
March 1, 2007 at 7:31 PM
Thank you. It made me think of my father…
Thank you again
March 1, 2007 at 3:31 PM
Thanks Veris for your comments. It is a beautiful poem that gives hope. Thanks for your visit
February 23, 2007 at 8:41 AM
wow! that`s a beautiful poem, although i like a lot poe, but this poem makes me think about a friend, wich died of AIDS….. she must be in heaven, waiting for everybody who loved her, to close our eyes…… el arte está aquí, mis, a donde quiera que estés, pienso en tí y te extraño…..