hands.

hands.
like a mask cover my face
digging into the earth
clapping in unison
reaching out
twisted in anguish
hidden under aprons
holding other hands
splashing through water
like ash
glistening in brightness
in sand
lost
not letting go
with pens
with pins
stretched toward the gaping sun
empty hands
etched with maps and wisdom and journeys
soft pink and new
kissed
and slapped
in chains
held up
and shaking
gnarled
in fists
in forbidden places
smoothing faces
speaking
urgent hands
and private ones
petal white and deep black
traced
pulling feathers
the first things we touch.

{poem by me; photo unknown}