Hands of Time

hands that scraped an apple, and mashed a banana, for me to eat when I was sick in bed

hands that brought me that treasured round tin full of wonderful and magical buttons

hands that brought me a glass of grape or apple juice

hands that cleaned up after me each time I was sick, (special mention to the barefeet that walked in it sometimes too!)

hands that selected my new Easter clothes

hands that helped me on and off the busses and trains as we traveled the country

hands that held mine while crossing the street on the way to church each Sunday

hands that cooked some of my favorite foods, beef stew, pot roast, country style spareribs

hands that cared for others for over 15 years as an aide in the hospital, then 3 years in a home and school for developmentally disabled individuals

hands that made the tiniest precisely placed stitches, in mending and quilting

hands that did tole painting, creating special keepsakes

hands that worked word search after word search puzzle

hands so strong that when she held yours, she could cut off the circulation, and you better not have on a ring

hands which are now spotted with age
frail, and weak
slow moving and tremble
hands that wipe her nose and mouth, sometimes hands that feebly point to her bear buddy, or the picture of her and daddy hands that if she gets mad, will muster up enough strength to grap hold  of my wrist or clothing hands that arrange the bead necklaces on her bear buddy or look slowly through her cards and photos hands that will randomly and for no reason, tear up such items too

hands that patted my cheek ever gently in an unspoken gesture of love

by Donna Webb, age 57, Racine, WI