Typewriter Rodeo: The Death Of The Handshake

Each week, the Standard reaches out to Austin’s Typewriter Rodeo for a custom poem on Texas topics.

By Kari Anne HoltSeptember 4, 2020 10:00 am,

In the age of social distancing, some traditional ways of greeting one another have fallen to the wayside. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

The Death Of The Handshake

Are you a clammy?

Are you crushing?

Are you limp?

Are you quick?

Doesn’t matter!

Any more!

our sharing

and splicing

and squeezing

of digits

is now old

gross

no more!

so rejoice in your jazz hands

celebrate your fist bumps

revel in your spirit fingers,

enjoy the new moment

of significant

waving

because your clamming,

crushing

limp

display

is no longer judged

no longer welcome

it is finally

a new

(Muppet arms)

day!

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