hands

i remember hands.

i can see them, still. the long fingers,
the veins
roped blue
under the olive skin.

or the fat hands, the stubby
thumbs,
the hard grips,

the nails polished or bitten.
the scars,
the callouses.

the softness of some.
i remember how they felt in mine.

when walking, when meeting, when
saying goodbye.

strong hands, weak limp hands.
cold
sweaty hands.

ringless, or with a diamond.
a gold band.
silver.

some were

beautiful hands. so many once
entwined
in mine.