These Hands

These hands
Have always been with me
What would I do
If they ever decide to leave

These hands have been soft
These hands have been steel
No matter what’s been done to them
They always seem to heal

Frozen with no feeling inside
They’ve worked even when muddy
Burnt and rough like leathery hide
Even through pain when bloody

They can turn a wrench with a twist
They can show affection; clenching a hip
They quickly ball to a fist
When needed to split a mans lip

They're the most important tools of mine
They feed my family and serve me well
I trust my hands for the secrets they know
For I know that they will never hint or tell

With nothing more than just a finger
They can keep a woman's body at bay
With a gentle or rough touch
They'll tell her I'm here to stay

They protect my house
If the moment came; they'd kill if need be
Or sacrifice my life; my all
To keep my loved ones safe and free

They've been broke and broken
They've been here and there
They've saved lives more than once
They've shown how much I care

I wouldn't trade them for anything
Though they're riddled with scars and rust
I wouldn't trade them for anything
They're the only ones I trust
My hands are a part of me

They've touched hearts and souls
They've squeezed throats and heads
They've sifted through the coals
And tucked children into beds 

They tell a story
Few have ever known
And If you're lucky....
Yours have a story of their own
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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