A body part apart

Tribute to a Family Member

By Laraine F. Eddington

The fact that it rhymes

quite precisely with "dumb"

does not excuse

disrespect of the thumb.

A lonely fellow

he dwells apart

among digit kin.

(It must break his heart!)

He turns his back.

How it disappoints

to be the only one

short a joint.

But fingers, unaided

are quite maladroit

and poor thumb

unabashedly exploit.

Each fingerly move

demands the brain

send help from thumb

to aid and retain.

Oh thumb, neglected

since I sucked thee dry

in those tender years.

(Comfort did supply.)

But now thou art

encased in a cast

rendered useless

by fiberglass.

I promise I

will love thee better

when thou art free,

released of fetter.

My indisposable

opposable

thumb!