The Sand Hill Review               http://www.sandhillreview.org 2009

12 Fingers 12 Toes

for Jeshuah Fuller b.2007

Perfect the hospital said, a wonderful

comment to make about a Black child.

But reporters talked about

how you might play the piano or

pitch a base ball

Run faster?

But the potential for touch is

not mentioned

The tips of your fingers

curling around the hand

of your mother,

moving across the skin

of someone you love,

tracing new words in a book.

They are a gift those toes

that make for more dancing,

the power to walk into a new world

and march beside others who are different.

Twelve is a miracle when it comes

to human fingers and toes.

Or just an anomaly that other children

will envy and mock

as if they can make being special

be ordinary

When you shake a hand it will be firm

and warm, the heat of difference

infusing what you touch.

When you wave it will be a sign

to come together

When you reach out

you will hold the world in your hand

as we all do.

It’s only a mystery not a miracle

but you will see as time passes

that sometimes more can be more

if you make it so.

Jewelle Gomez