Memories of Busy Hands
His hands-
Goalie hands.
Hands that wrote letters
To family left behind,
Across the Atlantic.
Thick fingers able to clasp the newest
Necklace around his wife’s slender neck.
Cracking Sunday-morning eggs,
Carving Christmas roast beef,
Folding napkins into swans,
Mixing Shirley Temples with the Maraschino, after
Serving the wealthy their Saturday night dinner.
Hands calloused by years of labor-
Removing tarnish,
Hammering out dents;
Polishing until the
Youthful reflection was visible
Once again.
Imperfections removed by
Rough, gouged hands,
Toughened over years.
Paint-splattered, scarred
Hands seeking the next task.
Sanding, measuring, building-
Handprints left throughout his home.
Swimming the fly-stroke across Mohansic Pool,
Throwing a softball to his Men’s Club,
Holding the hands of his
children-
Forever.
In Loving Memory of Roy Allen
Happy Father’s Day to all of the men out there with Busy Hands. Give them a well-deserved rest today. Remember that the most important task for your hands to engage in is holding the hand of a loved one.