Candle Hat Comments

The dripping of melted candlewax must have burned his gown and shoulders. That is artistic dedication.

Imaginations at its peak! 'You can only wonder what it would be like to be wearing such a chandelier on your head as if you were a walking dining room or concert hall.' - What an imaginative idea! Brilliant!

illuminated in the blaze of his famous candle hat.....imagine thru this candle hat the life of past, the life of conjugal happiness, the life of lost friendship; imagine the happiest moment of life thru this candle hat with the birthday smiling- it will be last shelter center of nowadays life; beautiful poem shared; I enjoyed

Ok I found the picture of Goya with his hat. Definitely very creative! Like today’s mine workers having light on their helmets. Times change but human genius always moving forward.

I would have to search the Internet to find that picture of Goya to decide it’s not just Billy Collins imagination. In today’s world this hat would be called a fire hazard! The world is different now. But if Goya really had a hat like that I would admire this creative genius even more.

He appears to be smiling out at us as if he knew we would be amused by the extraordinary hat on his head which is fitted around the brim with candle holders, a device that allowed him to work into the night A very fine poem. tony

Billy, I really like your poem. It has a hint of jocularity while educating us about the habits of a great painter. Wonderful imagery.

Painting yourself! ! ! ! But, she saw the glow! ! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

Excellent poem deserving notice of readers including Ph members

Wonderful poem which inspired me to look up and gaze at Goya's 'Self-Portrait in the Workshop'. Thank you for posting it!

Great poem. If i had just got off an illegal canoe from Libya being illegal and saw him standing in the doorway i would jump back in the Med and swim back to Bhengazi...sharks or not

A very remarkable piece of poetry with its simple narrations. Poetry is all about the details of life/existence. Thank you.

Wowwwww so good really

Isn't it fun to treat famous creative people like they're just another human being only running amuk with talent and ingenuity!

This poem is second to none. It's the first poem I read for Mr. Collins and it's the best poem ever. As I read it, I'd just start wondering where Mr. Collins got all that creativity from.

Collins reminds me of Walter Matheau. His dry humor is insatiable.

Imagine what would have happened as he walked through his house and had accidently got too close to a window drapery, or perhaps a Christmas Tree too old and dried out around Christmas time. Great poem Mr. Collins. God bless us all-MJG.

This is such a brilliant piece of perception, Collins captures the majick playfulnes of Goya's self-portrait with the same sense of mirth that is held by Goya on his own face. Time for some studying and imitation...

This is my new favorite poem by Billy Collins! I had not read this one before this moment but I will read it again and again. The overlooked idea of Chiaroscuro in art is beautiful and can be quite breathtaking. Somehow, by humble poem, Mr. Collins has done the same, transporting us all through time. Painting with words... amazing... thank you... T F Rice