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I went to a Sensory Integration workshop this week. As part of the programme we took part in two activities. In the first, we had to put a hand into three different, covered bowls, and feel what was in there. The first held pine cones, the second held spaghetti hoops (yuk) and the third held flour. We were allowed to wash our hands immediately afterwards! The second activity was to try to unwrap a Starburst while wearing gardening gloves. It was funny and frustrating at the same time.
Both of these have left me thinking about how important the sense of touch is, and how we disregard it. I seem to spend a lot of time sliding a finger or thumb over a shiny screen, but our sense of touch is so much more than that.
Think of the difference between wearing a soft, well-washed t-shirt and a scratchy jumper. Think of the texture of your favourite mug. Think of pushing your hands into damp soil, or holding a bumpy skinned orange. Think of shaking hands, of hugging a friend, of patting a dog. Think of standing under a hot shower, or holding out a hand to catch a snowflake. We learn so much about the world through our sense of touch.
That’s what I want you to focus on tonight – the feel of things. Here’s a little excerpt from Seamus Heaney to inspire you:
“So I saw him
Down on his hands and knees beside the leek rig,
Touching, inspecting, separating one
Stalk from the other, gently pulling up
Everything not tapered, frail and leafless,
Pleased to feel each little weed-root break,
But rueful also…”
A Call
Think about the things you touch…
How does a cool glass feel on a hot summer’s day?
How about this seaweed?
Have you ever been licked by a cow?
Give us a poem that has texture, temperature, heft. Give us a poem that conjures up a smooth wooden handle or a crisp cotton sheet, a moist handshake or sand underfoot. Really explore the sense of touch.
Once you’ve written your poem, leave a comment here, and link it up to Mr Linky. Then take a stroll though some other blogs, read some poems, leave some comments. Mr Linky is open for a couple of days, so come back again if you have time.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello all… when I saw the title I thought about that old Samantha Fox song, and i have to say I got stuck on that subject … he he.
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Victoria C. Slotto said:
Wonderful prompt, Sarah. So much comes to us through our sense of touch. When I was an art museum docent, I found it fun to ask the children to look at a painting and imagine/describe how images would feel to the touch. I will try to be here today.
sarahsouthwest said:
Thank you, Victoria, it’s lovely to see you here!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
So great if you would write Victoria… you are missed..
Victoria C. Slotto said:
I feel bad I missed it to. My excuse is in my post for OLN. Hope to do this prompt at some point in time.
sarahsouthwest said:
I will check out OLN. I haven’t had chance to get there yet. Good to see you 😊
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Frank Hubeny said:
Thanks for hosting, Sarah! I hope the touching I wrote about fits the theme.
sarahsouthwest said:
It’s a lovely poem, Frank, thank you.
Frank Hubeny said:
Thank you, Sarah!
kim881 said:
Hello everyone! Good evening, Sarah, and thank you for the wonderful prompt. I’ll be back in the morning to read and comment – it’s been one of those days…
sarahsouthwest said:
Sleep well, Kim, and wake refreshed. BTW, just finished The Clockmaker’s Daughter – what a great read!
kim881 said:
Thank you, Sarah. Yes, I loved that book!
Grace said:
This is a good exercise Sarah. Thank you for hosting!!!
sarahsouthwest said:
Thanks for joining in, Grace. I’m glad it worked for you.
sarahsouthwest said:
Bedtime for me now! I’ll be back 9n duty in the morning😴🙂
V.J. Knutson said:
Thanks for the prompt Sarah. Hope you sleep well.
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Frank J. Tassone said:
Evening, Poets! Thanks, Sarah, for this insightful challenge, and for hosting tonight! 🙂
sarahsouthwest said:
Thanks for joining us, Frank! It’s always good to see you here.
Frank J. Tassone said:
😀
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Tina Stewart Brakebill said:
Love and cows? I think it works! Thanks for the prompt.
sarahsouthwest said:
Oh, I’m intrigued…
Tina Stewart Brakebill said:
Yay!
msjadeli said:
Your prompt is a good one, it’s taking me back to fond memories of long ago.
sarahsouthwest said:
That sounds good to me!
Rob Kistner said:
Nice prompt Sarah! My poem is sensuos, but not vulgar. Brian Miller enjoyed this when he read the first version in 2012. This is an updated revision. Hope you enjoy this…
…rob from Image & Verse
Rob Kistner said:
My second offering for Touch Me is a bit more somber…
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lifelessons said:
This topic took me somewhere that surprised me. That is happening too often lately! Thanks for the prompt, Sarah.
sarahsouthwest said:
Some poems really want the be written. Thanks for going with it.
lifelessons said:
That’s what I like about prompts. They make you forgo planning. I’m sort of addicted to them to the point that I’m not writing anything else. I wake up each morning and rush to the computer. If someone is late with prompts—disaster. It is like a game I get to play every day. I imagine a lot of us are like this. And now, with Matt’s published at midnight, it has stretched from awakening to sleep time.
sarahsouthwest said:
I love a good prompt, too. I don’t have time to do them every day, but I can understand the addiction!
Truedessa said:
Good Evening All! I think I feel a musical poem. Thanks for hosting and the prompt.
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Donna Matthews said:
Thank you for hosting the prompt – I’m new to poetry and haibun and all of it! I love your site and look forward to reading and participating ❤️
https://www.djranch.org/2018/11/14/haibun-a-confectionary-commission/
sarahsouthwest said:
You are very welcome here! Just make sure you enjoy yourself!
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Rob Kistner said:
I introduced a third and final post for “Touch Me”. It’s about the magic touch of childhood… 🙂
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