Josephine Wu

Thumbs up, thumbs down, or in between

All gestures to express a view.

Twiddle, fiddle, or preen, keep clean,

But do resist an urge to chew.

Oh sore, opposable solitude!

Excluded from the fingers’ club

For having two -- one joint too small.

“All thumbs” mocks their ineptitude,

But when alone, each finger now a useless stub,

Oh no! Without the thumbs, both hands and man become nothing at all.