these hands
held a handset
for many a traumatic call
these hands
pounded the head
in despair plenty of times
these hands
struggled and still struggle
under the relentless ire of RA
inside a fragile frame,
along with their inseparable companions
these hands
penned elegies
when the soul pained beyond faint sounds
these hands
wiped away tears
that streamed down
onto anything on their path
these hands
caressed a dying mother in her last hours
on her only accessible body part,
her forehead
but
these hands also
touched the rarest of life’s gems
they embraced the magical arrival
of the priceless light of a daughter,
beautiful inside and out,
of her two little precious beauties as well
and
these hands also
touched those of dearest close friends
through countless splendid memories
but during trying times, in particular,
the falling and fallen self being lifted
to its intact version anew
friends far away did not see these hands,
but their caring spirits
warmed up the soul at the core
whenever it was feeling down and cold
friends, never encountered in person –
‘social media acquaintances’ to some,
also knew to lend an ear to the trials and
tribulations of the vessel of these hands
regardless of their confines,
these worn hands tremble now
with the gratitude of their traveler
on her journey from and to life’s offerings
whatever there is to come,
these hands will greet it,
along with their inseparable companions
hülya n. yılmaz, April 23, 2022
hülyaswritings 