He walks alone through the hush of morning,
dew balancing like prayers on blades of grass.
above him, a red kite wheels as geometry drawn
and for a moment,he forgets what we’ve done.
the earth is still kind,still spills blossom from trees
we’ve maimed all that is good with our distain
let rivers write sermons through concrete and spillage.
yet even now,she forgives us, the mother can be kind.
As he stands beneath a birch that grows despite the plastic
coiled at its roots his hand touches the bark there’s warmth.
Its life refusing to retreat from it greatest enemy homoerectus
the weight and menace of opposable thumbs.
I use my thumbs to pry my dog’s mouth open
when he is chewing hard plastic or a pair of glasses
they are also used when I want to open or shut doors
pull a dresser knob, use a fork, knife or spoon
I cannot imagine how worthless my hands would be without them
They are imperative to grasp turn or twist anything.
Imagine opening pickles without thumbs or
putting a cookie sheet in the oven without them
They are the appendages we rely on the most
They seem to be more valuable than the rest of our hands.
Thumbs, you are amazing, I am so glad to have you!
More grateful than ever after thinking about your value today.
Once we were hunter-gatherers
tribes grouped outdoors
before the days of yore
now we're hunt and peckers
each cooped indoors
on personal computer keyboards
and way back when
we'd communicate
banging on the drums
yes since then
we've progressed
today we're all
fingers and thumbs
Roger Joseph Ebert
on film judging was an expert
so, upon his review
would he give two thumbs up to my clerihew
Thumbs
I look forward to
the morning when
I
wake up with
box-shaped thumbs.
The rich get the cake,
The poor get the crumbs,
Hungry children sleep,
Sucking their thumbs.
Of all the inventions
whose time has come
There is only one
that will raise your thumbs
All the way up, and then some ...
As I'm sure you'll agree, wholeheartedly
'twill resonate with every copy-machine owner
the day I announce my new discovery
~ Forever Renewable Toner! ~
Each finger performs forthwith
the assigned functions freely,
aware that interference imposed
and the suffocating attire slipped in,
can be unpleasantly chaotic,
disturbing the digital harmony,
for the fingers feel stifled.
The garb of glove desensitizes
their discerning dexterity,
the hand dislikes.
The cathartic outfit of ease,
the mitten encases the fingers,
strengthening the fiber of comaradarie
that fosters the spirit of togetherness,
except for the odd one,
solely signaling thumbs up,
the hand appreciates.
_________________
January 18, 2023
Contest : Of What Use Are Gloves To Fingers
That Only Understand Mittens
Sponsofred by : John Lawless
Today
I saw the west wind
………thumbing a ride back home
©1/7/2022
Our ability to fight climate change,
May well depend on the number of green thumbs,
We vote for, to lead the charge.
This may lead to thumb printing all candidates,
For all positions to check if they are truly green,
In this we should not hesitate.
All children should be exposed to grass,
That is green,
And to have planted at least one tree,
By the time they are three.
Foster parents should be selected,
On the basis of thumbs that are green,
And given gumboots for free.
Lastly all prisoners whose thumbs that are green,
Should be given reduced sentences,
And free gumboots on release,
Plus a packet of seed and a spade,
As well as their own vegie plot.
Schools should be funded on the basis,
Of thumbs that are green,
And children with green thumbs,
Should be given priority of entry.
University entrance,
Should be subject to a green thumb test,
Without hindrance.
Research into maximising,
The number of green thumbs,
Should take priority.
Takes the form of a human,
an animal lies beneath
for what are we anyway
escapologists from the trees
Maybe we’re special, intelligent,
if still a little dumb
outgrown that inbred purpose
to breed and thrive
Humans need satisfaction,
a journey, fantasies and thrills
Always just beneath a willingness to kill
Content, we are under control
happiness is to be free
adrenaline keeps us awake and alert
My god they’re all chemical signals,
highs and lows passion, depression,
just imbalances of the mind
The illusion we’re so much more
is insane, and true
It’s forbidden to overtake evolution
but we did yesteryear
exceeding the laws of nature,
left the animals behind
So what now,
we’ve outgrown natural selection
one small step was never our threshold
next the forbidden one giant leap
Perhaps we don’t see it coming,
inexorable and inevitable as it is
We’ll never stop, never be satiated
we only ever had one goal
to become god.
By David Kavanagh
Writing a poem with only my thumbs
Opposable digits are A-number one
Will autocorrect fix the words I write wrong?
Not all words are lucky as I coax them along
My phone keyboard clicking as I’m typing the words
Now back to correct my fast-thumb-spelling turds
How long can I go with these poor thumbs of mine?
Most likely for hours, they’re typing sublime-ly
For they are the only thing in-shape on me
Covid has made my waist grow large times three!
For my thumbs are as sleek as an antelope
Compared to my waist, more a cantaloupe
The rhyme meter changed like an isotope
A variant bridge like a song I wrote
But back to the meter my thumbs they did strive
Worried I might go along for a drive
Now I will end this, my thumb-written poem
And hope you enjoyed it since it isn’t a tome
--All my writings are at mraymus.medium.com
My soul has been fed and nourished once more.
I now count my blessings as 2020 heads for the door.
This year has been a challenge but it has opened my eyes.
I am another year older and another year wise.
My relationship with life has now been renewed.
I will put aside the bad and focus on the good that’s accrued.
We all have a choice in how we react.
Next year will be grand, this is my new pact.
I have my wife and my boys they are my partners in crime.
We still have our health and my life is sublime.
I can see the sun as it rises, another day has now come.
I raise my heart up to God along with my thumb.
I’m thankful for life, it has really been a treat.
Thank you, dear Jesus for making me complete.
You have my love, my gratitude and every smile.
Thank you for your amazing gift and making life worthwhile.
December 6, 2020
Your Soul in 2020 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Chantelle Anne Cooke
Imagine if we didn't have thumbs
We spill our coffee and yell at the top of our lungs
Five is better than four
Oh more just one more
How the world would be so much more fun
Imagine if dogs could converse
With humans like “Couldn't feel worse”
Need some Kibbles
To poop out some missles
Wish I had thumbs it's a life-long curse
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