-- The Joy and Sadness of Possessions --
John Herlihy
We may have a lot of possessions
Without feeling the need for them.
We may need certain possessions
Without actually having any of them.
Possessions give some people happiness,
We find blessing in living with them.
Possessions give some people sadness,
We feel a sad melancholy in having them.
Some people can’t live without their possessions,
They cling to their sentimental value.
Some people can live without many possessions,
They feel content free of their sentimental value.
Some people happily give their possessions away,
When they no longer have need of them.
Some people hold onto all of their possessions,
They cannot see themselves without them.
Some people squander their possessions,
They don’t appreciate the value of them.
Some people highly value their possessions,
They understand the blessing inherent in them.
As I said, possessions can bring joy.
Joy in wanting, having, benefiting from them.
But some possessions can bring sadness
Sorrow at the fear – or actually -- losing them.
Implicit joy lies in nothing that can turn into something;
Implicit sadness in something that can turn into nothing.
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Copyright ©John Herlihy
Friday 17 February 2023
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John
I have always been one to hang onto things with special meaning. However, of late, I get joy
out of giving them to my grandsons, especially those they have taken an interest in
over time.
David Lee Thompson
From keeping up with the Joneses to hoarding, we are usually addicted to stuff. Often stuff that we don't need or use. Businesses thrive on our need for stuff by creating artificial demand through advertising. For example, I am sick of "designer" everything with jacked up prices for stuff that often, isn't even useful are worth the price.
All my life I have only purchased what I need like food and things that I used. I haven't collected anything of any value except some artwork that I bought from disabled people to give them a boost for selling their creativity. I have often bought the books of authors that I've been unable to read for lack of time and inability to hold them in my hand and read them like other people do. As a result, through a long lifetime I am now about to give away or sell most of the books that I have gathered and some of the artwork. I certainly can't take it with me; I don't want to. I want other people to enjoy what I have had and not having them just thrown in the trash like so much people buy and just waste as though there were no tomorrow.
Your poem gives a lot of food for thought, especially to those who conspicuously consume and follow the trends, making large collections of trivia or just plain junk.
Ron
Enjoyed the poem.
PS