A slight thing, written as I considered making things with my own hands…

 

Hands

 

Give me hands that reach and hold

Not hands that grab and grasp

Give me open hands

Not those made into a fist

Give me hands to build

Not tear down or destroy

 

Give me hands to shape and carve

Not hands to slice or cut

Put these hands in my own soil

Never taking seed sown by others

Let these hands be life lined

Not lifted against another

 

Let these hands make quiet music

No fife or drums of war

Give me hands that cup the ear

Not hands that push and point

And let these hands not pluck your specks

But take the logs from my eye