It has to be said this reminds me of hagsrus's "Poetry To Protect Us", but the not touching also makes me wonder about toxic/noxious substances.

Or a perm/dyejob gone badly wrong (thinking of Anne of Green Gables dyeing her hair green and my Mum emerging from the hairdresser with an '80s perm that made Dad say her hair looked like a bike-helmet)...

Intrigue! Looking forward to whatever it may be. :)