John N. Phillips

 Talk to the hand,

Googled,

“is usually accompanied by the gesture

Of extending one’s arm toward the other

Person, with the palm of that hand facing

The person being insulted

In the manner of the gesture to stop.

Use of the phrase was noted to be a

Passing trend, as one author noted,

In advising writer’s against the use of

Quickly dated slang: “Slang is trendy.

Last year every young person I knew was

Saying ‘Talk to the hand’. Now no one

Even remembers ‘Talk to the hand’.

Except me.

Now

And perhaps

you..

So forget talking to the hand.

Why not try talking to the heart?

Why not try talking to your own

Heart?

Softly

Or shouting at the top

Of your lungs:

I remember stumbling down Pine Street

That spring night long ago...

Stopping every now and then,

Unable to hold back

The grief.

Sobbing out loud at

The suicide death

of my friend,

Bob.

John N. Phillips