Hands

They poke and pick and prod in little battles.

They turn a key to get inside a house.

They twist a corkscrew into many bottles,

scratch an itching, you might never notice

several digits quietly make a difference

by signing cheques – and, sometimes, saving lives

- silent pirates, smugglers, warm, tenacious,

turn a button, link the other cuff.

They squeeze the scissors tight, join palms on Sunday,

feel the skin of people that you love,

open books, unclenching at the last page

and build up castles - so we all survive!

Without them we’d be disconnected,

they cup an ear so ‘oddballs’ can be heard:

wave, or clap, or point at, disregarded,

reach out for others others disregard.