The human hand has 17,000 touch receptors and the star nosed mole has 6 times that just on the tiny forward facing star, this star that never shines, never grants a wish, a full of feeling star. Think of how my hands might explode when they picked a wildflower if they had this power. What would happen when they scratched my dog behind he…
The human hand has 17,000 touch receptors and the star nosed mole has 6 times that just on the tiny forward facing star, this star that never shines, never grants a wish, a full of feeling star. Think of how my hands might explode when they picked a wildflower if they had this power. What would happen when they scratched my dog behind her ears, this dog full of dirt and bits of burdock and raucous joy? Would they leave imprints on the shell when I pull a warm, freshly laid egg from the nest box, slip it into my pocket, and soon after crack it open for my children’s breakfast? Maybe sing when they pick wild black raspberries and turn them into jam? Sizzle wiping away tears?
I like to think my hands, these hands that brown in the summer, short nails, no paint, plain hands, no taper to the fingers hands, the pointer finger a little pudgy compared to the rest, blue veins popping hands, hands supporting these fingers, these carved away fingers, would sigh with relief as they write my story, each ridge of a fingerprint like growth lines in a tree, another story to tell. Perhaps, on a good day, these hands would giggle with delight, with truth.
(Facts about touch receptors and the star nosed mole from Great Adaptations by Kenneth Catania.)
Wow! Sheila, this is such an exciting piece of writing. A pure prose poem that has all my senses wide awake. I've read it aloud several times into the quiet of my writing room and it is making me smile and feel full of renewed energy. Thank you so so much for responding to this month's theme as you have, and I hope to be surprised and delighted by more words by you if any of the other themes interest you to try! The link to your piece as I've now curated it onto the book story archive is as follows:
Tanya, Thank you so much for your response and encouragement. I have been smiling since I read it. Your book was beautifully written and life changing. Also thanks for providing this opportunity for all of us, so kind of you!
The human hand has 17,000 touch receptors and the star nosed mole has 6 times that just on the tiny forward facing star, this star that never shines, never grants a wish, a full of feeling star. Think of how my hands might explode when they picked a wildflower if they had this power. What would happen when they scratched my dog behind her ears, this dog full of dirt and bits of burdock and raucous joy? Would they leave imprints on the shell when I pull a warm, freshly laid egg from the nest box, slip it into my pocket, and soon after crack it open for my children’s breakfast? Maybe sing when they pick wild black raspberries and turn them into jam? Sizzle wiping away tears?
I like to think my hands, these hands that brown in the summer, short nails, no paint, plain hands, no taper to the fingers hands, the pointer finger a little pudgy compared to the rest, blue veins popping hands, hands supporting these fingers, these carved away fingers, would sigh with relief as they write my story, each ridge of a fingerprint like growth lines in a tree, another story to tell. Perhaps, on a good day, these hands would giggle with delight, with truth.
(Facts about touch receptors and the star nosed mole from Great Adaptations by Kenneth Catania.)
Wow! Sheila, this is such an exciting piece of writing. A pure prose poem that has all my senses wide awake. I've read it aloud several times into the quiet of my writing room and it is making me smile and feel full of renewed energy. Thank you so so much for responding to this month's theme as you have, and I hope to be surprised and delighted by more words by you if any of the other themes interest you to try! The link to your piece as I've now curated it onto the book story archive is as follows:
https://thecureforsleep.com/april-issue-hands/#sheilaknell
Very best, Tanya xx
Tanya, Thank you so much for your response and encouragement. I have been smiling since I read it. Your book was beautifully written and life changing. Also thanks for providing this opportunity for all of us, so kind of you!
Love this Sheila ! Your imagination is captivating. I’m a teacher and it would be a great inspiration for writing ….what if…..
thanks
Louise, what a lovely comment, a good remark from a teacher is always the best! Thank you!
Shelia reading this prose, just feeling the words as I see it all in my mind's eye is such a sensory delight!
Pure joy!
Thank you for sharing
Tracey x
Thank you for that. It was fun to write and I think the first writing that I posted here. I was so nervous, always makes me happy when it resonates.
Sheila
Definitely resonated for me too!