If you've been reading my re-vamped blog the last couple of weeks, you know I have a lust for rust. Ok. That's a bit of a cliché statement, but... well, I think rust is AWESOME!
It just adds so much character to old steel that would otherwise just be considered past-its-prime.
I tend to pan and scan the ground and my surroundings for anything rusty. I've used bits and bobs in my artwork, and taken hoards of photos. Walk with me and I'm known to stop, say "hold on! I need a photo of this..." or even just stop whatever I'm doing... "squirrel!" and pick up metal pieces, smooshed pieces, pieces covered in dirt, etc. You do that too, right??? Please tell me I'm not just at the precipice of becoming a crazy bag lady.
You MUST know by now...my favorite poem is Hector the Collector by Shel Silverstein. I've posted it before, on my archived PatinaMarie blog. Someday, I WILL create a wall hanging of this poem. It's just SO me.
HECTOR THE COLLECTOR
by Shel Silverstein
Hector the Collector
Collected bits of string,
Collected dolls with broken heads
And rusty bells that would not ring.
Pieces out of picture puzzles,
Bent-up nails and ice-cream sticks,
Twists of wires, worn-out tires,
Paper bags and broken bricks.
Old chipped vases, half shoelaces,
Gatlin' guns that wouldn't shoot,
Leaky boats that wouldn't float
And stopped-up horns that wouldn't toot.
Butter knives that had no handles,
Copper keys that fit no locks,
Rings that were too small for fingers,
Dried-up leaves and patched-up socks.
Worn-out belts that had no buckles,
'Lectric trains that had no tracks,
Airplane models, broken bottles,
Three-legged chairs and cups with cracks.
Hector the Collector
Loved these things with all his soul‹
Loved them more than shining diamonds,
Loved them more than glistenin' gold.
Hector called to all the people,
"Come and share my treasure trunk!"
And all the silly sightless people
Came and looked...and called it junk.
Collected bits of string,
Collected dolls with broken heads
And rusty bells that would not ring.
Pieces out of picture puzzles,
Bent-up nails and ice-cream sticks,
Twists of wires, worn-out tires,
Paper bags and broken bricks.
Old chipped vases, half shoelaces,
Gatlin' guns that wouldn't shoot,
Leaky boats that wouldn't float
And stopped-up horns that wouldn't toot.
Butter knives that had no handles,
Copper keys that fit no locks,
Rings that were too small for fingers,
Dried-up leaves and patched-up socks.
Worn-out belts that had no buckles,
'Lectric trains that had no tracks,
Airplane models, broken bottles,
Three-legged chairs and cups with cracks.
Hector the Collector
Loved these things with all his soul‹
Loved them more than shining diamonds,
Loved them more than glistenin' gold.
Hector called to all the people,
"Come and share my treasure trunk!"
And all the silly sightless people
Came and looked...and called it junk.
It's all good. I'm happy with all my collections. I'd rather be gifted some random piece of JUNK, than two dozen roses or a trip to the mall.
...but I'll keep on rolling along...filling up the totes, bags, boxes. Life's too short to live in a WHITE BOX!
My poor kids! "I love you, boys."
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