Most people have one brain, up there behind
The eyes. But others hie from alien worlds
Equipped with extra sense; their hands have minds;
Their fingers always know how things are coiled
Together—even things they’ve never seen
Before. Those hands are like the tools of god.
My smiling neighbor Bill is one of these.
He can fix anything; no thing seems odd
To him. First I fret, then brave the hardware
Store (three trips!)—trembling at the ugly task,
Dismayed, I look to see if Bill is there—
“Spare me ten minutes of your time?” I ask.
“Sure! Let’s see.” Parts caressed by hands divine—
Snap, click, thump—done! The man should be enshrined!
(6/22/07)