Tuesday, November 5, 2024

washing his hands raw

we worked
together for years
and then
i noticed that he washed his hands
a lot,
as if he couldn't get them
clean.
he used soap
and a brush,
a rag,
digging at the nails.
he rubbed them raw
under hot water
from the sink.
i couldn't understand
what it was
all about
until i met his wife and kids,
and visited
the house where
he lived.

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