The Collector

The month of August has arrived, and I’m moving along on my quest to post a blog daily. I challenged myself to this intense post schedule. I have used the year 2021 to explore the various forms of poetry. This month I decided to write Proverbial forms of poetry. I will pick a proverb, a short common saying, and use it to create a poem in whatever direction the Muse chooses to lead me. However, you must remember we are talking about Word Daddy here. My Muse isn’t dependability or inspirational.  He often leaves me high and dry when I need his help the most. Apparently, Proverbials have no particular rules. I will try not to sound cliché. My next attempt to write a Proverbial Poem, I will call The Collector.

The Collector

The origin for the proverb, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” came from the 17^th-century English proverb “one man’s meat is another man’s poison.” The meaning of the proverb comes down to there is no accounting for taste.

The Collector

There is an art to visiting junk shops.

It takes a critical eye,

To distinguish the trash from the treasure.

There are so many intriguing swaps,

Careful about what you choose to buy,

The adventure is a Saturday pleasure.

Searching for

old telephones

Pencil sharpeners

Teapots

Typewriters

Cameras

Masks

Quilts

Cameras

And a submarine if they have one

A collector of past possibilities

Out to test his luck

A wad of money in his pocket

He sifts through piles of junk.

Up and down the rows, he makes a dash

Searching for something to measure

Because one man’s trash

Is another man’s treasure.

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!