Emery Walker

Touch

Touch is something vacant.

I remember because I never got it.

It was something meant to hold

Appreciation for achievements,

Or even a simple greeting.

My father had the power to touch,

Yet he never taught it,

Not a simple hand on the shoulder

To show me he was proud of me…

He hadn’t tried at all.

 

Touch is something evil.

I remember because I had enough of it.

It was something that carried memories

Of gold gilt smothering me whole,

And stamped onto my body.

Boys around me had that Midas touch,

And they abused it,

Hands around a neck firmly

And one around the waist and all over

To show they owned me…

They tried way too much.

 

Touch is something I hate.

It was filled with ill intent,

Or no intent at all.

I had avoided it for so long…

 

Touch is something new.

I know now because it felt right.

A hand on my shoulder from

An authority older to tell me

How proud he was of me.

Later, another one to explain

Something I never understood.

Another time, to show he was

Paying attention to me.

They showed me that sometimes…

Touch is something good, meaningful.