Outskirts Press, INC.

“For you I have saved poems under my skin.” Sanober Khan

Yearning for Human Touch is a collection of poems and stories that explore human touch and intimacy as a healing experience. Mr. McDowell examines the yearning for human relationships and deep connections in response to personal traumas in his life, such as a traumatic brain injury, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. Emotionally gut-wrenching and haunting, the poems and stories emphasize the impact of these experiences on the poet’s identity, family, and spiritual life. The search for intimacy and healing emerges from a deep sense of loneliness, grief, and alienation. At the same time, a theme of human compassion and grace transforms the pain and isolation into hope and reconciliation. In the end, God weaves the poet’s suffering, loneliness, and yearning for human touch into a song of love.