Pandemic Hands
Moments between hands Lockets of memories Lesson of Life Palm reading in real time Pandemic hands Hands in a flurry, hurried hands A slaughter of safety, the practice of sorrow Grieving hands, losses that slipped right through our fingers Small hands, typing away for online classes Holding a cap and gown for a graduation That is cancelled or postponed Can life be postponed while our hands have no rest? Gloved Hands, a doctor’s search for a cure Gardener’s hands, deep in the soil of a Victory Garden Nurse hands, holding patients’ to tame their fear Entangled fingers comfort the weary Worn and exhausted Washing hands As worry drains down into ground Taken by the Earth, filtered I hold in my hands a gift Small and symbolic to celebrate the birthday of my love Happy just to be here another year, Another day, another minute…together My husband’s hands full of cuts Extra hours of labor To make up for our losses Protective with love Strong hands Warm, heroic and surrounding me When we are down Hands have power in a slight squeeze Pandemic hands Hands of volunteers Hands of helpers Teams of hands Hands like Life’s Breath Hands that build together With mine, hands intertwined Love Spreads Faster than Pandemics
Michelle won an out-of-county Honorable Mention.. She is featured in our first official book publication, In the Quarantined Room: Reflections on the COVID-19 Experience in Indian River County, FL 2020. To find out more about the book and to purchase a copy, click here.
