Splendid that the word
in English should begin with K,hard like bone. Make a fist.
There they are, those knobs
in a slanting line, fingers
bolted to them. Make a list
of all the species they knew
before they went to work
for us. People put rings
on fingers, shape and paint
nails, read palms, shake
hands, caress with soft
finger-pads. They might
even tattoo something
sinister near the knuckles,
which no matter what keep
working shifts in the grip
factory, uncelebrated, scraped.
Rub the knuckles of one
hand with the other hand's
fingers: a gesture of thanks.
hans ostrom 2023
