A crazy love of things

I’m funny about pens; I prefer markers, actually, and they must have the finest of points that flow smoothly without skipping or stuttering ink across the page. They needn’t be expensive; for years I’ve favored a fine-tip marker made by Staples that costs $5.00 for a dozen.

There’s something wonderful those pens do for my handwriting; they make it look like practised calligraphy, almost.

😉

Pablo Neruda wrote a whole book of Odes to Common Things, but I’m not sure he ever wrote an ode to a pen…

I love
all
things,
not because they are
passionate
or sweet-smelling
but because,
I don’t know,
because
this ocean is yours,
and mine:
these buttons
and wheels
and little
forgotten
treasures,
fans upon
whose feathers
love has scattered
its blossoms,
glasses, knives and
scissors-
all bear
the trace
of someone’s fingers
on their handle or surface,
the trace of a distant hand
lost
in the depths of forgetfulness.

From Ode to Things by Pablo Neruda

What are some of your favorite things, special forgotten treasures of your everyday life… hats, flower vases, compasses, the velvet feel of a particular chair…

Share, please!

BTW, Dave at Via Negativa wrote a series of Odes to Tools that is just delightful. Enjoy!

10 thoughts on “A crazy love of things”

  1. Addicted to computers, blogs, and emails, I am still a letter and note writer. I send funny notes to the office of my daughter-in-law. She has a stressful job as a litigation attorney for a large firm and loves getting a laugh in the middle of the day. I send humorous notes and uplifting notes to my three surviving aunts. They love getting mail that has nothing to to with Medicare or bills.

    My favorite pen is a Mont Blanc that my husband gave me. It fits my hand so perfectly and the words flow effortlessly. I love it.

    A small special treasure came just the other day. My husband brought me a sheet of Bette Davis stamps. (I LOVE the old Bette Davis classics.) Guess I’ll have to use them before the rates go up.

  2. gosh I haven’t read Pablo Neruda in ages- I really enjoyed this one Laura. I too have a ‘thing’ for pens and still love to write, even though my handwriting isn’t as legible as it used to be 🙂

  3. Laura–as you know, I love fountain pens. It was one of the first things I wrote about on my blog.
    And I love books–I counted them one time–and I must have 500 or 600 in the house. Whew!

  4. a pretty crazy pile of lots of hand tools gathering dust, but ever at the ready, out in the barn!

    for example an old brace and bit. every kid should have to drill some holes with one!

  5. hate coats and sweaters. they have sleeves. LOVE shawls. No sleeves!!
    I have at least a dozen. Slides. No heels. no blisters and my feet can flex and not hurt.
    Stick pens. ballpoint. Great for inking drawings and for drawing. I use them for my journal too.
    I love many other things too.

  6. A beautiful poem!

    I have two things that I particularly enjoy. One is a smooth, oval stone that I found on a beach in California. The other is a very small teddy bear that is softer than anything I have found. I love to hold either of these things. The feel of them is comforting.

  7. As a nurse who writes a good bit, I love the extra fine tip rollerballs too. I was a Pilot G-2 0.5 girl for a long time and then, like Pam, found that Pilot Precise V5 and am in heaven. I go into Office Depot and just swoon.

  8. I like mechanical pencils and have since college; .5 lead.

    I like the idea of notebooks, but rarely use them. I generally write notes on any old scrap of paper. Which wind up on piles on my desk.

    I like calculators, and have a number scattered on, in, and around my desk. I’ve even one in a box mounted on the wall.

    I have a favorite hat. A wide brimmed cotton hat. The first time my nephew saw me in it he asked his mom, my sister, if I was a cow boy.

    And I like the feel of books. Even when I’m sitting watching TV I like to have a book on my lap.

    And sweatshirts. I like baggy sweatshirts.

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