why G.S. Hurst invented the touch screen

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why G.S. Hurst invented the touch screen

The sign reads ‘look but do not touch’ 
where flocks of backpacked students drift 
afloat behind the docent’s wake
of practiced words—

‘Look at the way the artist’s brush 
lays heavy strokes,’ and someone slips
their iPhone out while junk-drawer pens take 
notes on colored pads

that come in packs of three. A whiff
of day-old deli meat mom stuffed
inside a bag keeps pace behind 
the shuffling group 

as if it doesn’t want to miss 
a word, and Mrs. Baker huffs
when someone asks if there is time 
to see the gift shop

after lunch. With flip-flopped feet 
they clap their way back to the bus 
to talk about the pastel boobs
they saw, the fat

lady with purple pants, the fleet 
of naked marble men lined up 
in shameless undress, to soon 
forget it all except 

the 'look but do not touch' that's chiseled
like the David in their minds.

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