Hector the Collector
Hector the Collector - meaning Summary
Value in the Overlooked
Shel Silverstein's short poem sketches Hector, a man who cherishes broken, useless objects that others dismiss. The poem contrasts Hector’s deep affection for discarded items with the crowd’s failure to see value, ending in a wry reversal where communal judgment labels his treasures as junk. It explores themes of individual taste, attachment, and the subjective nature of worth through a simple narrative voice and playful cataloging of objects.
Read Complete AnalysesHector the Collector Collected bits of string, Collected dolls with broken heads And rusty bells that would not ring. 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 boasts 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 then shining diamonds, Loved them more then 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.
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