these hands

by Emily Newman

these hands have gripped
a lover's back
fooling myself into
romantizied daydreams

these hands have shut
the door behind me
after finally gathering stregnth
to walk away

these hands have hung
up the cold reciever
after rounds of
piteous pleas

these hands have held
the future
in the form of a child
ten fingers, ten toes- perfection

these hands have loved
these hands have pushed away
these hands hurt
these hands create

these hands, with thier
patchwork of scars,
withered and marred,
jagged, tattered nails

these hands are the oldest
part of my young body,
the dead give away
to the age of my soul

i'm too young
i'm too old

these hands have hugged
a pillow trying to
chase away the
lonliness night brings

these hands hold
my child
listening to her
golden sunshine laughter

these hands will
save me
they aren't as frail
as they seem

these hands are my hope
these hands will hold on
these hands are strong
these hands survive