The Language of Touch

Posted on 2019/10/15 by Bartholomew Barker

The Language of Touch

Our fingers whisper—
trace thin skin,
sympathetic nerves,
compassionate nails—
a graceful discussion
of analog thoughts.

We’re watching something
that I’m ignoring.
Sitting by your side,
not gazing into your eyes.
I’d rather eavesdrop
on our hands.

I don’t want to interrupt
their conversation
with this banal language
of sound and sight.
Our fingers,
more articulate,
say it all.

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is one of the organizers of Living Poetry, a collection of poets and poetry lovers in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.

View all posts by Bartholomew Barker →

This entry was posted in Poetry and tagged finger, hand, touch. Bookmark the permalink.

6 Responses to The Language of Touch

Lisa Tomey says:

2019/10/15 at 19:48

Bart! You had me at whispering fingers…beautiful.

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- Bartholomew Barker says:
  
  2019/10/15 at 19:50
  
  Thanks. A poem’s got to start strong.
  
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JeanMarie says:

2019/10/16 at 00:03

Wow. I loved “whispering fingers” and “I’d rather eavesdrop on our hands.” Strong finish. Great job.

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- Bartholomew Barker says:
  
  2019/10/16 at 08:43
  
  Thanks. A poem’s got to end strong.
  
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mbrazfieldm says:

2019/10/16 at 22:55

this is really touching and ethereal thanks for sharing :)

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- Bartholomew Barker says:
  
  2019/10/17 at 08:17
  
  Touching: Nice pun. Thanks!
  
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