The most beautiful hands in the world are not manicured, soft, and bejeweled.
They are lined,
calloused from coal mining,
encrusted with farmed earth.
At times, they smell of onions and garlic.
They are stained with tomato sauce from canning,
dotted with wet bread dough,
snagged from knitting and crocheting socks, scarves, hats, baby blankets and sweaters.
They are sticky from picking apples, figs,
pears, peaches, plums, almonds, walnuts, and berries.
Their fingers are pierced from embroidery and sewing.
Sometimes they are covered with meat and fennel from sausage making
or sprinkled with wine from the press.
They have made countless meals.
These hands are strong, full of expression,
fearless, protective, hardworking, providing,
worn to the bone.
They are firm and gentle
and have held, caressed, fed, and cleaned many babies and children.
Yes, they are kind beautiful hands. They speak. They tell a story.
In honor of mom and dad’s wedding anniversary: April 25, 1948 — to eternity
Photo of hands and photo of my parents in their later years photographed by my nephew John Urbano, film director and photographer.
I wrote this poem a while ago. You can see an earlier version of this post here.
Your poem is beautiful and the photos of your parents radiate love! Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you, Holly. The words just tumbled out of my head. There was so much to say about their hands, their history, their loving ways. Namaste Fran
Those hands, of all our loved ones, having shown their love through the makings of hard work, meal prepping, tying little ones shoes, brushing hair….your words Fran brought me bedside to my mother in her last days, holding her hand and reflecting on all that she’d given to me through them. Ahhh, just so beautiful. Thank you.
Thank you for your beautiful words, Maryellen. How did I know you would find a deep connection through these words. Hands are amazing. I love the photo of my parents’ hands taken by nephew John Urbano. In yoga, we say that hands are an extension of the heart chakra. All we do with our hands comes from the heart. Your mother,too, was a loving human being. What a blessing!
Very sweet, Fran. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Thank you, Bev!!
Very beautiful, Fran. Wonderful pictures and such evocative words. They also bring memories of my own parents and how we grew up. Love you! Woody
Thank you, Woody!! with love back to you, dear friend, love Fran
So beautiful…words, images, feelings.
Thank you, Tina.
What a lovely poem, Fran and tribute!! 🥰
Thank you, Barb!!!
How beautiful! Yes indeed true beauty is not understood. You are so talented Fran, thank you for sharing this. Much love, Loxy.
Thank you, Loxy!!
So sweet. And I love hands!
Thanks, Kathleen!
I LOVE this!!! All of it – the poem, the photos, the feeling. ❤️
Thank you, René!! It is a moving tribute to my mom and dad! I look at their hands and I miss them!
Sweet
Thank you, Don!!