Never met a happy hoarder - the happy hobbyist.

From the beginning

through the light of day

we gather and collect

ourselves.

Through our hobbies

we find ourselves....

satisfied but not complete.  

- the happy hobbyist.

Through the light of day

into the dark of night

we hoard ourselves collecting,

never satisfied, never complete.

In the quest of hoarding

we become small, smaller,

ever so insignificant

until we are lost.

We have not found ourselves,

we have become consumed.

Copied, mass produced,

shelved, forgotten.

- the unhappy hoarder.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

"Hoarding" is an interesting concept to define. Some have hoards in their cupboards, but they're just stocking up in case we have a pandemic. Some have hoards they call collections, which only increase in value they say, even tho abundant rodents gnaw stored scrap into scrabble. We are so addicted to our consuming, we all hear the whining when people can't get everything they're used to being able to buy. I wager that most people could live for a month or two on what's in their homes, without any shopping, but people are grumbling about the shortages. This pandemic, in my opinion, revealed a different epidemic, as revealed in your poem (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Einstein Noodle]

i agree with emmajoy about the quote ... very cool! we so do collect and hoard ... our true self buried under more and more layers ... we get small ... we suffocate our true selves ... we forget the face of our Father ;)
on a more humorous note this also reminds me of this:
https://youtu.be/rSWBuZws30g
E.

[emmajoy]

'In the quest of hoarding - we become small, smaller, - ever so insignificant - until we are lost.'

Such a worthy quote, andrew.. you're right. Perhaps that's why i'm four inches shorter than anyone else in my birth family! However, must admit, am a proud hoarder of past relatives ' bits and piece; souvenirs from here and there, dried leaves, pebbles from sea-shores, etc. etc. . Consequently, only have room for a bed, a chair, multi bladed tool and a chipped tin mug. OK, so I lie but, in forty years, just might be true!

Forgive me for such a silly response, true though it is, more or less, because what you've posted really has weight in the life of just being. Tis too easy to gather for the sake of gathering but, surely little things are in a way - mini thoughts. Without them, life could be more than bland. Thank you for making me think - obviously have to empty a few more drawers and boxes. Stay inspired and safe, andrew. :)

[Ted Kniffen]

Good job Andrew. We gather things as we go through life...some cling like those little stickers from weeds...and some are downright bothersome and yet we collect...like you mine has always been books.
Every decade or so I weed them out and donate them to book stores.

The one thing we don't seem to collect enough of are friends.

Good write. Take care friend...be well.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A detailed and caustic piece that relays all that we know about those who seek happiness in things, well done, good read.

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Andrew... we are happy hoarders... however when
company visits it is a bit embarrassing. It looks like we have
incorporated our home into a business venture. Now where did I put my glasses?
truly a poem of a great gathering of talents. as ever, Pat

[light and ashes]

This is really profound.
Great work.

[Relic]

I don't know about anyone else, but this is the most relatable poem I've ever read by you, andrew. My father was that way and I'm the one who must suffer with getting rid of it all. As a result, it does indeed make you feel smaller.

Great poem.

[andrew mitchell]

Thank you Tim much appreciated, we are all hoarders to a degree, some extreme and why we collect things like me with books I don't know why because we can't take them with us and my kids won't have them I'm sure! I have so many books I haven't the time to read them all in my lifetime!