My whole world is defined by those Gentle hands

Gnarled by time, graced by strength, those gentle hands

Chapped by generational love,

they gave shape to my identity, those gentle hands

All at once warm and unflinching,

that generous spirit grew into those gentle hands

Whether wiping away tears or clasped in quiet prayer,

oh, the comfort they brought, those gentle hands

And even now, long after they’ve stilled,

I reach across the universe to grasp those gentle hands

Perhaps to remind me of all that was and all that could be,

I trace each line, each wrinkle of those gentle hands

My soul aches, my heart breaks with their absence

How I long to hold those gentle hands

Image by giselaatje from Pixabay

#OctPoWriMo2023 #Ghazal