Do you know what people are about?
I'll tell you what people about
They're all about movin' stuff around
Underneath all that complicated
technology, psychology, sociology, and civilization
Up close, they're just about
movin' stuff around
Now, I'm not talking about ants, and bees and termites
that have exact reasons for movin' things around
Or squirrels 'n pack rats storing stuff to eat
Not even talking about those big oscar fish in tanks
that move rocks around to claim territory
Nope, people are even worse than crows
picking up shiny stuff to horde in their nests
for no earthly reason
Now, people will go out and purchase stuff they can't afford
can't eat, don't need, and won't use
They will spend weeks shopping for stuff, searching for stuff
new stuff, old stuff, valuable stuff
and chasing the thrill of buying bargain stuff
They’ll put all that out on layaway
or pay with cash and credit cards
or coupons and debit cards
Then they’ll bag it up, cart it home, open it up, try it on, plug it in
and see if it works
They will arrange it, rearrange it, and arrange it again
They’ll push it over here and drag it over there
or try to find some other place
Any other place
Then they’ll stack it up, hang it up, pile it up, put it up
store it in a nook or hang it on a hook
Just so they can collect even more valuable stuff!
Of course, they'll see more, find more, and buy more
They’ll work another job so they can get more
And they'll even buy bigger homes than they can afford
Just so they can have all that stuff
Hey, whatcha’ got there? Well, that there’s a genuine 1956
Chevy four barrel carburetor
You bet, like new
That there’s a real keeper
Never know when you’re gonna’ need something like that
Now don’t touch that little red propeller hat there on the coffee table
That’s part of my Beany and Cecil collection
Oh, I just loved Beany and Cecil when I was growing up Didn’t you?
Look here
I’ve just got to show you my great grandmother Edna’s wonderful 1920’s button collection
It’s worth some real money nowadays
Well, finally they'll try to organize all that stuff
They’ll count and catalog, match and improve
try to keep it up to date
restore it
take it apart, fix it, modify it
redesign it, follow the trends
And after that, they're forever cleaning it, washing it, dusting it off
shining it, and, in the end
spending hard earned money to insure it to just keep it safe
At last, they'll stand back and admire it, tire of it, retire it
and then downright just forget it
Because they’re off to the store to buy new stuff!
Well, pretty soon it gets to be too much for everybody
They'll have to take all that old stuff out
and just get rid of it
So they'll box it up, wrap it up, tuck it away
put it in the closet, throw it in a corner, shelve it, hoard it
stuff it under the bed, store it in the laundry room
move it to the garage, or hide it in the shed
Next, they'll just get busy and move all that old stuff out for good
Period!
They'll try to sell it, give it away, hand it down, throw it away
drop it off, pitch it in the trash
burn it, bury it, leave it on the roadside
And sometimes, they’ll just plain pick themselves up, and move away
Well now, don't let 'em tell you that life is all about
culture, technology, science and civilization
It's just about people moving stuff around
c 10/07 Sandy HartmanEven in the most hackneyed, mundane things we do, there are profound surprises and lessons. To hear the audio reading of this poem and see
the slide shows, go to www.eonwriter.com.
