Empty Hands

Sunlight gleams through my tattered blinds

Adorning the room with shadowed lines

Light my hands with the warm sun’s touch

My empty hands that once held so much

 

The hands that tried to heal our world

When anger rose and the feelings swirled

Round and round, sucked through the darkness

They held on tight, they fought the madness

 

They reached to pull you through the days

When things were bad and you were afraid

They nourished your body as well as your soul

To lift you up, to make you whole

 

They built on the foundation laid

When you grew tired, they did not fade

They worked until the break of dawn

Then kept on moving all day long

 

When they reached out, you pushed them back

For all you saw was what they lacked

You slapped them down and turned away

Yet you took what they had at the end of the day

 

These hands held warmth, held love and joy

They had so much to give, never aimed to destroy

But now they lay barren, open palmed on my lap   

Confused at the outcome, their energy sapped

 

They’re reaching for something, for someone to hold

But nothing is there and they can’t stand the cold

Yet as soon as you realize that they’ve finally gone

You want to reach out, you try to hold on

 

But all I can say is it’s done now, my friend

There is nothing left, there is nothing to mend

Nothing to give that could meet your demands

All I have left is my own empty hands

Reviews

[An owl on the moon]

What an overwhelming sadness flows here, through that mix of memory and the pain evoked... Just the title lends itself to a hopeless offering. Beautifully bittersweet...

[Doreen]

This is so sad and emotional. The picture of despair and longing is painted well here.

[littlelilypurplebride]

I agree with coyote poetry. very powerful words yet sad but this is a amazing piece you mastered this i don't most time like sad poems but this has hope & alot of strength in it bravo it's going into my reading list god bless lily thank you for sharing

[Coyote Poetry]

A powerful poem. A lot of sadness and emotion in your words. The poem is written with strength and very good story. When we lived a long life and sometime we feel we didn't do enough. A excellent poem.
Coyote

[Daniel Gardner]

your poetry shows what deep inside of you. Feelings are rarely so beautiful expressed in writing form. Although sad you give your feelings a beautiful touch. I enjoyed this.

[Norma M Sutton]

Oh this is sad.

[Crowley]

and the need to move on......this was painful and precious at the same time. Precious in the fact of the great understanding that it portrays. You paint moods really well, and the images you use and the language get your point across relly lend to the tone. Great writing.