Hands
There’s a story in these hands, with their nearly identical dislocated small fingers and strongly curved left index finger tip. They have survived work, play, exposure, and medical indifference. Unlike the fingers, the thumbs cannot curl in upon themselves and stop at an inward right-angle bend. The long, lean fingers end in short, shiny nails. Though the nails were never gnawed, jagged cuticles visibly fill the nail-skin interface. Dirt residue occupies the hard-to-reach crevices in and around the nails. The backs of the hands carry a flesh-toned tan lightly accentuated by abundant short, brown hairs and a few elevated veins. As fists form, prominent wrinkles on the knuckles transform into smooth, rounded knobs on each finger. Then, as the forearm twists and the fists open to expose the palms, only an oar-induced callus by the thin gold band on the left ring finger mar an otherwise ordinary skin surface. Soft lines separate the thenar, palmar, and phalanx regions of each palm and fingers. These lines are neither magical nor encoded, for the story in these hands is held by their holder.
There’s a story in these hands, with their nearly identical dislocated small fingers and strongly curved left index finger tip. They have survived work, play, exposure, and medical indifference. Unlike the fingers, the thumbs cannot curl in upon themselves and stop at an inward right-angle bend. The long, lean fingers end in short, shiny nails. Though the nails were never gnawed, jagged cuticles visibly fill the nail-skin interface. Dirt residue occupies the hard-to-reach crevices in and around the nails. The backs of the hands carry a flesh-toned tan lightly accentuated by abundant short, brown hairs and a few elevated veins. As fists form, prominent wrinkles on the knuckles transform into smooth, rounded knobs on each finger. Then, as the forearm twists and the fists open to expose the palms, only an oar-induced callus by the thin gold band on the left ring finger mar an otherwise ordinary skin surface. Soft lines separate the thenar, palmar, and phalanx regions of each palm and fingers. These lines are neither magical nor encoded, for the story in these hands is held by their holder.
7 comments:
I love that you're using these terms, "the thenar, palmar, and phalanx."
I'm interested in the stories you hint at in the "work, play, exposure, and medical indifference."
Good start, Frank. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Frank, it sounds like you've come right up out of the ground you inhabit. Rich portrait. Could be the lead-in to a fascinating story.
I was impressed by how descriptive your writing was and how you found the words to really bring your hands to life for the reader.
You brought action into play with "Then, as the forearm twists and the fists open to expose the palms". I could see your hands before but that twist made them 3-D. Also the lines neither magical nor encoded makes me think maybe they are. Good job! Kevin
Frank-
Very descriptive and detailed. I also really like how your brought a sense of motion to your post.
The medical indifference comment made me wonder if it was your indifference or someone else's?
I love your description. You tell so much about the hands, yet you are still a mystery.
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