How familiar this hand
its form and function
gradually wrinkling skin
now visible veins, tendons

shape of the nails, their strength
history of vigorous, oblivious use.
To remember when young
how much taken for granted. And now,

more towards the end than the beginning
still able to flex, to bend
make a fist, brush a cheek,
to hold a pen, mind open.

Margaret Dubay Mikus
© 2010

From Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine