Hands

Shoulders taut
Arms tensed
Fists balled
Jaw clenched
Holding the pain
the sadness
loss
yearning
anger
resentment
guilt and shame
All clutched tight
But you ask me to let go
Offer to pour water
to soothe
a healing balm
to ease
But it's been so long
that the joints are locked

I feel your warmth
relaxing my muscles
telling me you're here
That it'll be alright
And slowly I start to unfurl
Imperceptibly at first
But I acknowledge your work
And let you go further
A little more each day
As you gently take
my deformed and knotted hands in your own
I feel a physical ache
from keeping them this way
And as you gently prise
each finger open
it hurts
stiff; unused
unused to being used this way
But I can see your desire
To free me
relieve me
And I let you slip your hand
into my open palm
And be with me
Not moving; not going
Just being.