Notes About The Poem

Listening to the radio, a surgeon speaking of the reduction of dexterity in the hands of his students.

Losing Touch

Between Velcro
And touch screen

We are losing touching
Feeling and doing

Thumbs made us
All thumbs we will be



***
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Connelly Avatar
May 26, 2022 at 9:19 AM
As ALWAYS & FOREVER your word choices are spot on Maureen. IT'S truly the world that has lost touch AND THAT'S very depressing... In some ways I'm losing touch too AND that scares the SHIT out of me... Thanks Maureen...
Connelly Avatar
May 27, 2022 at 1:55 PM
Maureen. I JUST made a long distant call to my psychaiatrist. I left a message on his machine telling him that I was cancelling my June appointment AND that I NO longer take his prescribed medications NOR drink anymore. That I would be back in the USA sometime mid- July. THAT felt pretty friggin good jajaja...
Connelly Avatar
May 27, 2022 at 5:31 AM
"...but to KNOW that you are losing touch is the hell and the horror!" your words Maureen. "The horror! The horror!"- line spoken by Kurtz in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" YES. I'm uttering those words Maureen. I've really fucked my life up...
Pigeon Tart Avatar
May 26, 2022 at 12:12 PM
Ah to be losing touch is one thing, but to KNOW that you are losing touch is the hell and the horror! This pome was spawned by a radio interview with a surgeon professor talking about how most of the new recruits haven’t got the tactile intelligence that we have from growing up using our hands… just trying shoe laces, so much brain connection, tension etc…
Connelly Avatar
May 26, 2022 at 9:17 AM
I am a VERY tactile type of person BUT you can lose connection WITH a person NOT just by NOT physically touching THEM.... I've ALWAYS been ALL thumbs but here everyone around me type/texts rapidly with BOTH thumbs whereas I use an index finger ONLY SO when I say, "I can't quite put my finger on it" I literally mean it...
Connelly Avatar
May 26, 2022 at 9:13 AM
Maureen. The randomness of finding THIS poem was simple: Press 5 on YOUR list of ALL PoetrySoup poems THEN read the poem associated WITH the 1st "title" that catches my mind. That being said. I find myself on THIS page. THIS poem is about a VERY touchy subject BUT I'm trying to touch all the bases without losing touch...
Faulkner Avatar
November 24, 2018 at 4:07 PM
So introspective, not sure if this is how you meant it but I read it as losing empathy for others, being addicted to electronics...
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 25, 2018 at 8:14 AM
I love your read! It was inspired by a conversation on the radio, a teaching surgeon remarking the declining dexterity and sensitivity in the hands of newer students.
Wolf Avatar
November 11, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Ha! Doctors nearing retirement almost never palpate the patient anymore---let alone younger doctors. As for surgeons, they can keep their hands to themselves for all the good most of them do--as in no good whatsoever! OK. Rant's over now. Back to normal... ~ Gershon
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 11, 2018 at 10:16 PM
Dammit Jim.
Flaherty Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:13 PM
And in years the come The young will only see on Phone Screens With Giant Thumbs Welcome to the Future Distopia
Flaherty Avatar
November 12, 2018 at 4:16 PM
Picture those Giant Foam Hands at Sports Events
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 11, 2018 at 7:06 AM
I'm picturing a hand model ;p
Krampe Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 10:38 AM
Interesting thought, Maureen.
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 1:20 PM
Thank you Agnes. xomo
Vaso Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 10:27 PM
I just broke my fingers in a fall, so I am thumbs for the time being!!! LOL
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:00 AM
Oh ouch ouch (!) ouch. Dominant hand? I feel for you, broken a lot of bones, both wrists separately. Sending healing thoughts! xomo
Leiser Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Wise words, Maureen. And we’re all getting too addicted to our cell phones, too! Enjoyed this! :)
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:00 AM
That's why I went flip ;) xomo!
Lawless Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 4:27 PM
A THUMBS UP ON THIS ONE MO.......
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:01 AM
Thank you! :)) xomo
Hauser  Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 3:43 PM
Nice
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:02 AM
Thank you :) xomo
Horne Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 2:58 PM
love this clever write
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:02 AM
Thank you :) xomo
Leffanta Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Interesting, as I thought today's children would have more dexterity as using a keyboard (especially by thumb) dozens of times each day requires more dexterity than playing the piano for an hour. However, I have heard that sex is the best exercise, so perhaps we should encourage youth to get involved as sex can create life whereas guns just take it away. Nicely done, though, Maureen! Aloha! Rico
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:09 AM
Sex and piano both benefit from dexterous hands ;) Thank you Rico, xomo!
Sharp Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Very incisive, point well made at the end.
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 10, 2018 at 8:07 AM
Thank you Lawrence. xomo
Mcferran Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 9:04 AM
This is so deep- and cleverly penned! Had to FAV this, great work, my friend! ;)(Oh mercy... I've been writing WAY too much this morning- everything is starting to rhyme! hahaha)
Pigeon Tart Avatar
November 9, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Thank you! I wasn't sure how deep it would be read ;) Rhyme on sister! xomo!
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