Summary of Touch

In Hugh Lewin’s poem Touch, the speaker expresses an intense yearning for human contact while reflecting on the emotional toll of isolation during imprisonment. Deprived of touch, even a simple gesture like a handshake or a pat on the back, he feels disconnected, dehumanized, and traumatized. Touch, which symbolizes human connection, warmth, and empathy, becomes a powerful reminder of everything he has lost. Through this longing, Lewin reveals the psychological effects of confinement and underscores how essential human connection is to maintaining one’s sense of self and humanity.