Hands

[mabithdarling]

Little pale hands
climbing fences
climbing trees.
Fingers smudged
dirt and chalk
crayon, marker.
Carefree hands.
cuts, torn nails,
smells of pine sap.

Hands grow up.
Buttoning blouses,
unbuttoning pants,
opening car doors.
Or climbing down that tree
to sneak away from home.

College hands
holding too many books,
carrying beer,
holding your head up.
Steering wheels and jewelry.

Mother's hands,
checkbooks and grocery bags,
holding tiny hand in theirs.
Cooking, working, living.

Old hands grown thin,
withered frayed and fragile.
Shakey signing Christmas cards,
gripping old quilts and photos.
Waiting.