HANDS IN CRISIS

POEM

Reluctantly delving in to her dinner plate,

her dry, unkempt,  hands were squat,

muscular, quaint, divulging her troubled,

emotional state, moving conductively

in small figures of eight,

pressing against

                her stomach, inwardly irate, each time

                she flinched to stop to think,

her fingernails were half an inch, the

             size of a medium pinch,  a pinch so fierce,

the skin would pierce, proportioned

evenly, decorated meagrely, she felt

they lacked maybe, aesthetic dignity,

when shoddy, they were  given

adequate attention, cleaned and

buffed, without looking rough,  

ready to undertake any task,

though weeks had passed, a closer

inspection showed her skin was chapped

gaunt, broken, indicating a lack of fluids,

nutrition, circulation,  accentuating

               her dense wrinkles, the bony points of her

               pale knuckles, had she reached

her crisis pinnacle?

She envied almond shaped nails, with

tips that could  boast ample growth,

she missed socialising with folk, her

ability to joke, to  laugh, to strum guitar,

                  when suddenly tense, her hands clenched,

                  fingers  coiling and writhing, with a

                            morosley, peculiar, turbulence,

                                          like beleagured, agitated, serpents...   

Author's Note

feedback would be most appreciated

Reviews

[KAOlmsted]

I just love your style, Sheema...every time I read you I dive head first into your words and just allow myself to float to the end...and then I climb back up and do a forward dive with 3 1/2 somersaults in the pike position, just to show off ;-) and read you again. Never less than twice. Your descriptive poetry is among my favorites, not only on this site, but ever...thanks so much for giving us your gift.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

This is not a poem which I personally was especially taken with, though when writers of your calibre come along and review, I am truly flattered, deep thanks for all of your appreciation, means so much :)

[KAOlmsted]

It's really quite something, Sheema...I am partial to works that take something so simple about a person and elevate it to the level you've elevated those remarkable hands. Be so very proud of this one.

And thank you for that enormous compliment...I'm truly touched and humbled, because when I grow up, I want to be you ;-)

[SHEEMA HUQ]

ha ha !! xx

[KAOlmsted]

;-)

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

I have arthritis in my hands that has just begun and it troubles me greatly. Your poem touched my heart. Thank you for this one.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Thanks Neva, very much, I am sorry to hear that you suffer with arthitis, best

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A well structured, observant, descriptive and poignant picture painted of growing old. Easy to read and well constructed

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks so much for this review

[Adam Whitworth]

you engage your audience well with this articulate piece. I'm going through it for the umpteenth time!

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Well, that awfully awfully generous of you Sir Whitworth, thank you!

[Robbie~xoxo~]

"when suddenly tense, her hands clenched

fingers coiling and writhing, with a

morosley, peculiar, turbulence,

like, beleaguered, agitated, tireless serpents... "
~These are not your ordinary hands... it is written as if they are an extention of your emotions... I love the uncoiling of your thoughts, using a serpent's characteristic. Great write!

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks so much Robbie,
hands as metaphorical indicators indeed, best

[Robbie~xoxo~]

it is... very much so.... nicely done! :)

[Sami Khalil]

"she missed socialising with folk, her

ability to joke, to laugh, to strum guitar,

when suddenly tense, her hands clenched

fingers coiling and writhing,"
Hands are so useful and necessary for our daily tasks and our works. We tend to ignore how important they are to life's functions and some lose their power due to age so they rely on others to help them. I think you are a very descriptive poetess( a compliment by the way ) for you go deep into details . Wow. That takes observation and sharpness of minds and eyes.
A great job as always...:)

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thank you Sami for such a thoughtful and encouraging review

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...Good stuff...Pen on...:)