13. I Love ... hands

Tiny little baby hands

with perfect tiny little finger nails.

Pudgy little toddler hands

holding on to one finger.

Grimely, sticky, dirty little kid hands;

proof of all their adventures of the day.

Growing hands:

little boy hands changing to a young man's;

little girls with sparkly polish

all too soon
with slender fingers
wearing a promise.

Hands of a hard working man,

a hard working woman.

Aged hands,
holding a lifetime
of days past.

Days of

 holding a baby,
holding a lover,

 holding a friend,
holding the future.

Hands together in prayer.
Hands
at rest.

Hands hold
it all.